From Opus

Gallus gallus

Photo by Joe Pan
Location: Lahad Datu, Sabah, Malaysia

[edit] Identification

This bird is a tropical member of the Pheasant family and the direct ancestor of the domestic chicken. Male and female birds show very strong sexual dimorphism. Males are much larger; they have large red fleshy wattles on the head and long, bright gold and bronze feathers over the back of the bird from the neck to the lower back. The tail is composed of long, arching feathers that may look black but have blue, purple and green hues. The female's plumage is designed for camouflage as she alone looks after the eggs and chicks. She also has no fleshy wattles on the head.

During the breeding season, the male birds announce their presence with the well known cock-a-doodle-doo call.

[edit] Distribution

Northeast India eastwards across southern China and down into Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

[edit] Taxonomy

[edit] Subspecies

• G. g. murghi - N India and adjacent Nepal and Bangladesh
• G. g. spadiceus - Myanmar to sw Yunnan, Malay Peninsula and n Sumatra
• G. g. jabouillei - N Vietnam to s China (se Yunnan, Guangxi and Hainan I.)
• G. g. gallus - N Indochina to e Thailand
• G. g. bankiva - S Sumatra, Java and Bali

[edit] Habitat

[edit] Behaviour

These birds tend not to fly, apart from to reach their roosts at night.

[edit] External Links