Hey! We are not normal domesticated Chickens. We are the Grey Jungle Fowls and have a lot of similarities with the Red Jungle Fowl.
Know more about us:
- Do you know? We are only found in the Southern and Western parts of India.
- We are also called Sonnerat’s Jungle fowl referring to the French Naturalist, Pierre Sonnerat who described us.
- You might know this, we, like other jungle fowls, can’t fly long distances. We fly short distances but at a rapid speed.
- We are ancient birds. The domesticated fowls that you see in India are actually our cousins, having a similar leg color is one of the proofs.
SOME QUICK FACTS ABOUT US:
Our Scientific Name: Gallus Sonneratii.
Identification: Regular chicken-like bird, Males are grey and have distinct pale brownish-yellow spots, Females are dull and have white streaks.
Our Habitat: In thick bushes of the forest floor and in open scrubs.
Our Range:
Food Habits: Omnivorous; feed mainly on grains, seeds, berries, and insects.
Breeding Period: February to May.
Number of eggs laid: 4-7 eggs.
Incubation period: about 21 days.
Lifespan: about 15 years
IUCN red list status: Least Concern.
CITES: Appendix II.
Indian Wildlife Protection Act: Not listed.
SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Galliformes
Family: Phasianidae
Genus: Gallus
Species: G. sonneratii
COMPLETE DETAILS ABOUT US FOR ANIMAL ENTHUSIASTS:
As we have told you before, we are also called as Sonnerat’s Junglefowls. We along with red jungle fowls belong to ancestors of domestic fowls.
Grey Jungle Fowl is scientifically called as Gallus Sonneratii.
HOW WE LOOK:
We look similar to any domesticated fowl with few distinctive looks. Males have a body length of about 75cm and females have a body length of about 38cm. We weigh 700gms- 1140gms.
Males of our species have a black cape with pale brownish-yellow color spots. The body is grey in color with fine patterns.
Females have dulled grey color with black and white streaks on the underparts. Males have red legs with spurs and females lack these spurs. Our tail feathers are long.
WE ARE FOUND IN:
We live in the wild where there are thick bushes on the forest floor and also in open scrubs.
Our range lies in Indian Peninsula and in few parts of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan of India.
WHAT WE EAT:
We like any other fowl are omnivores and we feed mainly on grains, seeds, berries, and insects.
OUR REPRODUCTION:
We breed in the months February, March, April, and May. The female generally lays 4-7 eggs in a nest. The incubation period is 21 days.
The father protects the mother while incubation and also the chicks when they are born. The chicks leave the nest after 9 weeks.
Our lifespan is about 15 years.
MORE ABOUT US:
We make distinctive and loud calls in the early mornings and at the dusk. While we call, we don’t flap our wings like red junglefowl.
We can use our wings to escape a predator and can fly up to a tree.
The domesticated fowls have yellow legs which belong to the gene from grey junglefowl passed on.
OUR CONSERVATION:
We are so abundant in this world and are classified as “Least Concern” in the red list of IUCN. We are also listed in CITES Appendix II. We are hunted for our meat and also feathers. Habitat loss is also a threat for us.
Pic Credit: ebird.org
