# 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. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 8 - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Junglefowl, Wild Chicken ![Red Junglefowl](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Red_jungle_fowl.png&width=800) Photo: Subramanya C K, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Red_jungle_fowl.png) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Galliformes - **Family:** Phasianidae - **Genus:** Gallus ## 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 - **Forest Camouflage:** Red Junglefowl has dull, mottled brown plumage on females that helps them blend seamlessly into the forest undergrowth, hiding from predators. - **Explosive Flight:** Red Junglefowl can burst into short, powerful flights to rapidly escape danger, making them hard to catch in dense vegetation. - **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 - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/termite) (*Odontotermes obesus*) — Junglefowl scratch for and consume termites. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## 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 to identify Red Junglefowl? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### 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 ## Where to spot - [Silver Springs](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/silver-springs) — Florida, US · Zoo - [Alakaʻi Wilderness Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alaka-i-wilderness-preserve) — Hawaii, US · Nature Reserve - [Downtown Miami Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/downtown-miami-historic-district) — US · Historic District - [Empire Mine State Historic Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/empire-mine-state-historic-park) — California, US · State Park - [Enchanted Floral Gardens of Kula](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/enchanted-floral-gardens-of-kula) — Hawaii, US · Botanical Garden - [Hickam Air Force Base](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hickam-air-force-base) — Hawaii, US · Historic Site [View all places to see Red Junglefowl](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/red-junglefowl) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Red Junglefowl: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-junglefowl)