From Opus

Gallus lafayetii

Race ceylonensis
Photo by Steve G
Sinharaja Rain Forest, Sri Lanka, July, 2009

[edit] Identification

66-73 cm. Orange-red body, dark purple wings and tail. The back of the head and the neck are golden, and the face has bare red skin and wattles. The comb is red with a yellow centre. Unlike other junglefowl, the cock does not have an eclipse plumage. The female is much smaller, at only 35 cm. She is mainly brown with white patterning on the lower belly and breast.

[edit] Distribution

Endemic to Sri Lanka.

[edit] Taxonomy

A monotypic species.

[edit] Habitat

Forest and scrub.

[edit] Behaviour

It is a ground nesting bird, 2-4 eggs are laid. The eggs are incubated only by the female who takes care of the young.

It is terrestrial and the diet includes seeds, fallen fruit and insects.

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