Bird · GBIF taxon 9326020
Gallus gallus
gallus gallusAlso known as Red Junglefowl, Wild Chicken, Indian Red Junglefowl
Red junglefowl are the wild ancestors of all domestic chickens, navigating tropical forest floors in small, harem-based flocks led by a dominant rooster. These agile birds are much more flight-capable than their domestic descendants, roosting high in trees at night to escape ground predators. Their complex social hierarchy is maintained through a diverse vocabulary of clucks, alarm calls, and the rooster's iconic crow.
TerrestrialVocalSocial
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Termites
- Fallen figs
- Seeds
Predators
- Leopards
- Birds of prey
- Pythons
ThreatsGenetic hybridization with domestic chickens, habitat loss, and hunting
HabitatsTropical forests, scrublands, mangroves, and agricultural edges
Life span10 to 15 years in captivity, significantly less in the wild
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderGalliformes
- FamilyPhasianidae
- GenusGallus
- Speciesgallus gallus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Roosters may charge and scratch with sharp leg spurs if they feel threatened; maintain a respectful distance.
- What to notice
- Wild birds have slate-grey legs, eclipse plumage in males, and a more slender, horizontal posture.
- Support conservation
- Avoid releasing domestic chickens near wild junglefowl habitats and observe wild flocks quietly.
Responsible observation
- Listen for calls: Locate wild flocks by listening for the rooster's brief, abrupt crow, which is shorter than a domestic rooster's.
- Watch the trees: Look upward into the lower canopy at dusk to spot birds flying up to their nocturnal roosts.
- Check the legs: Distinguish wild birds from domestic escapees by looking for slate-grey legs rather than yellow ones.
Close Relative Yathin S Krishnappa / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) ꦥꦤ꧀ꦗꦶꦒꦸꦱ꧀ꦠꦶꦄꦏ꧀ꦧꦂ, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by ꦥꦤ꧀ꦗꦶꦒꦸꦱ꧀ꦠꦶꦄꦏ꧀ꦧꦂ · cc-by
Close Relative 
Family Member Kandukuru Nagarjun from Bangalore, India / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
Keep collecting in Fauna
Continue in the app Found in Collections
Species set Pro
Farm Friends
Gallus gallus is found in this collection. Identify it in Fauna to fill this slot and continue your progress.
Unlock to track progress
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.