Gallus sonneratii
The Grey Junglefowl (Gallus sonneratii) is a striking member of the pheasant family, endemic to peninsular India, renowned for its contribution to the domestic chicken's lineage. Males are notably larger and more colorful, reaching lengths of 70-80 cm and weighing 700-1100g, characterized by their iridescent dark grey bodies and distinctive metallic greenish-blue hackle feathers tipped with unique, wax-like yellow spots. These 'lacquer-like' spots are a key field mark, setting them apart from...
This species favors dense scrub, deciduous and semi-evergreen forests, bamboo thickets, and forest edges. It primarily inhabits plains and foothills, typically found from sea level up to approximately 2000 meters in elevation.
An omnivorous species, its diet consists mainly of seeds, grains, berries, and fruits, supplemented with a variety of insects, grubs, and small reptiles. They primarily forage by scratching and pecking at the ground in leaf litter or open areas.
Grey Junglefowl are diurnal, spending their mornings and late afternoons foraging, typically resting during the midday heat before roosting in trees at night. They employ a ground-scratching and pecking strategy to find food, often moving individually or in small family groups. Males are territor...
The Grey Junglefowl is endemic to peninsular India, with its distribution centered across the southern and central parts of the subcontinent. Its range extends northwards into Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and West Bengal, while also spreading throughout the Western an...
Least Concern
- The Grey Junglefowl is one of only four true junglefowl species, all found in Asia. - Its unique 'lacquer-like' or wax-tipped hackle feathers are a distinct feature not seen in other junglefowl species. - Genetic studies suggest this species contributed the gene responsible for yellow skin to s...