Red junglefowl

species of bird; wild ancestor of the domesticated chicken

The red junglefowl (Gallus gallus) is a tropical member of the family Phasianidae. They are the ancestors of all our domestic chickens. They were first domesticated in Asia, where they are native. Some of the less specialized domestics, such as the brown leghorns, keep color patterns similar to that of their wild ancestors. The males are about two pounds (1kg) in weight.

Gallus gallus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Class:
Order:
Family:
Genus:
Species:
G. gallus
Binomial name
Gallus gallus
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Red junglefowl range
Gallus gallus

Bathing

change

Red junglefowl regularly bathe in dust to keep just the right balance of oil in their plumage. The dust absorbs extra oil and it subsequently falls off. [1]

References

change
  1. Brinkley, Edward S. (2003). "Reader's Digest Pathfinders" Creatures of the Air and Sea. Singapore: Reader's Digest Children's Books. p. 17. ISBN 0-7944-0353-0.