Order Galliformes / Chickens and Turkeys

Gallinaceous birds can be easily distinguished from other birds by some features which are listed below:

• Galliformes have blunt wings.
• As the name suggests, they resemble house chicken in appearance;
• Many Galliformes have bright crests and ornamental tails;
• Galliformes predominantly feed on the ground;
• Most of these birds have strong legs;
• Many of these chicken-like birds prefer walking and running to flying, and if scared, usually fly only for a short time;
• In one family of this order-megapods, birds build mounds for incubating their eggs;

Galliformes order is very varied, as you can see in the diversity of its species:

• Black grouse, Lyrurus tetrix
• Wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo
• Mallee fowl;
• Orange-footed Scrubfowl
• Brush turkey
• Indian peafowl
• Red jungle fowl
• Common pheasant, Phasianus colchicus
• Argus pheasant
• Chukar