ExploreBirds

Red Junglefowl

Gallus gallus

The Red Junglefowl is a colorful bird that is the ancestor of domestic chickens. They have bright red and orange feathers and love to scratch the ground for seeds and insects.

Habitat: Forests

Appearance

The Red Junglefowl is a vibrant bird with iridescent greenish-black tail feathers and a striking red comb and wattle, especially prominent on males. Males display shiny dark green and coppery-orange plumage, while females are duller brown for camouflage, making them blend into the forest.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderGalliformesFamilyPhasianidaeGenusGallus
Red Junglefowl
feathered trait badgesocial trait badgeomnivorous trait badgecolorful trait badge
Red Junglefowl

Category

Birds

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

Be the first to snap!

Interesting facts

All domestic chickens around the world are descended from the Red Junglefowl!

Junglefowl chicks can run and forage for food almost immediately after hatching!

Males perform a special "tidbitting" dance to show females tasty food.

They use different alarm calls to warn about ground predators versus aerial threats.

Special abilities

Ability

Forest Camouflage

Red Junglefowl has dull, mottled brown plumage on females that helps them blend seamlessly into the forest undergrowth, hiding from predators.

Ability

Explosive Flight

Red Junglefowl can burst into short, powerful flights to rapidly escape danger, making them hard to catch in dense vegetation.

Ability

Keen Ground Foragers

Red Junglefowl can expertly scratch and peck through leaf litter to uncover hidden seeds, insects, and fruits from the forest floor.

Measurements & details

Length
42-75 cm
Wingspan
40-60 cm
Weight
0.7-1.5 kg
Lifespan
5-8 years
Top Speed
48 km/h
Clutch Size
5-9
Incubation
19-21 days

Diet & Feeding

These forest birds scratch for a variety of seeds, fruits, insects, and small creatures to eat.

Primary Foods

  • Seeds
  • Fruits
  • Berries
  • Insects
  • Worms
  • Small reptiles

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

eaten by

Changeable Hawk-Eagle

Nisaetus cirrhatus

Predatory birds often hunt junglefowl from above.

eaten by

Leopard

Panthera pardus

Big cats are skilled at ambushing junglefowl.

eaten by

King Cobra

Ophiophagus hannah

Large snakes can ambush junglefowl nests or adults.

eats

Termite

Odontotermes obesus

Junglefowl scratch for and consume termites.

Traits

Also known as

JunglefowlWild Chicken

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Watch from a distance and don't try to catch them; they can be scared easily.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is Red Junglefowl?

42-75 cm

What is Red Junglefowl's wingspan?

40-60 cm

How much does Red Junglefowl weigh?

0.7-1.5 kg

How long does Red Junglefowl live?

5-8 years

How fast can Red Junglefowl move?

48 km/h

What does Red Junglefowl eat?

These forest birds scratch for a variety of seeds, fruits, insects, and small creatures to eat.

Where is Red Junglefowl usually found?

Forests

How does Red Junglefowl hunt?

Foraging

Snap Map

Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.

Loading map…

Recent Snaps

Recent snaps will appear here as new observations are added.

Where to spot

More Birds