2020 Bonanza Bird #28

Introducing the Birdorable Red Junglefowl: The Ancestor of the Domestic Chicken

Birdorable Red Junglefowl

Today’s new Birdorable is one of four species of junglefowl in the world. It’s the Red Junglefowl, and the 750th bird species on Birdorable!

The Red Junglefowl is an exotic tropical species with a familiar look, due to it being a primary ancestor of today’s domestic chicken. It is thought that the chicken was first domesticated around 8,000 years ago, also using stock from the other three junglefowl species. The name Red Junglefowl is also sometimes used to describe feral chicken populations established from escaped farm chickens.

Our Birdorable bird is a male Red Junglefowl, with his flashy and fleshy red comb and wattles, long iridescent tail, and golden hackles. Females are cryptic with a camouflaged plumage to help keep them safe -- especially during breeding and brooding season, when they alone care for their chicks.

Red Junglefowl
Red Junglefowl by Jason Thompson (CC BY 2.0)

As we get closer to Christmas our remaining Bonanza birds will follow a theme. The first of three “kings” will arrive tomorrow. The bird is a migratory species of New World flycatcher with black and white plumage. Can you guess the species, if we tell you the name includes a cardinal direction?

Cute Red Junglefowl Gifts

Comments

Birder on December 21, 2020 at 5:04 PM wrote:
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Just Another Birder on December 21, 2020 at 5:05 PM wrote:
By the clues, I easily figured out that it was either a Western or Eastern Kingbird. I searched up “kingbird” on Birdorable and found out that the Western Kingbird is already on here. So I think that it’s an Eastern Kingbird.
Birder on December 21, 2020 at 5:06 PM wrote:
Oops
Birder on December 21, 2020 at 5:07 PM wrote:
I'll get that answer the Eastern Kingbird.
Birdorable (Arthur) on December 22, 2020 at 2:37 PM wrote:
That's right, it's the Eastern Kingbird 👍
Arvin Chang on December 29, 2020 at 3:16 AM wrote:
can you guys add more birds of paradise?
Spurwing Plover on January 27, 2022 at 6:45 AM wrote:
Did you hear the one about the Murder in the Chicken Coop? Their suspecting Fowl Play was involved
Spurwing Plover on June 5, 2022 at 10:47 PM wrote:
If your ever in the Jungle and heara a Rooster Crow and there no farm for miles iys going to be the Jungle Fowl

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