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Pheasants & Allies

The Phasianidae family comprises 185 species of heavy, mostly ground-dwelling birds like pheasants, partridges, junglefowl, turkeys, and peafowl. These birds vary widely in size, with some tiny like the king quail and others massive like the Indian peafowl and even heavier wild turkey. They feature brightly colored males with ornaments such as combs and wattles, especially in larger species, and show a range of spur configurations on their legs. Found mainly in the Old World, Phasianidae species inhabit diverse environments from Europe and Asia to Africa and parts of Australia. Behaviorally, they exhibit varied diets from vegetarian to insectivorous and show different breeding strategies, with some monogamous and others polygamous, generally nesting on the ground. The family's relationship with humans is significant as the red junglefowl is the ancestor to domestic chickens and wild turkeys to domestic ones, both crucial in agriculture, while many species are popular gamebirds. With a complex evolutionary history, systematics have been revised, now including turkeys and grouse within the Phasianidae family, which continues to be studied and understood through molecular phylogenies.

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Blue Quail

Synoicus adansonii
A photo of a Cape Spurfowl (Pternistis capensis)

Cape Spurfowl

Pternistis capensis
A photo of a Chukar Partridge (Alectoris chukar)

Chukar Partridge

Alectoris chukar
A photo of a Coqui Francolin (Campocolinus coqui) , male

Coqui Francolin

Campocolinus coqui
A photo of a Crested Francolin (Ortygornis sephaena)

Crested Francolin

Ortygornis sephaena
A photo of a Grey-winged Francolin (Scleroptila afra)

Grey-winged Francolin

Scleroptila afra

Harlequin Quail

Coturnix delegorguei
A photo of a Hartlaub's Spurfowl (Pternistis hartlaubi) , male

Hartlaub's Spurfowl

Pternistis hartlaubi
A photo of a Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus) , male

Indian Peafowl

Pavo cristatus
A photo of a Natal Spurfowl (Pternistis natalensis)

Natal Spurfowl

Pternistis natalensis
A photo of a Orange River Francolin (Scleroptila gutturalis)

Orange River Francolin

Scleroptila gutturalis
A photo of a Quail (Coturnix coturnix) , male

Quail

Coturnix coturnix
A photo of a Red-billed Spurfowl (Pternistis adspersus)

Red-billed Spurfowl

Pternistis adspersus
A photo of a Red-necked Spurfowl (Pternistis afer)

Red-necked Spurfowl

Pternistis afer

Red-winged Francolin

Scleroptila levaillantii
A photo of a Shelley's Francolin (Scleroptila shelleyi)

Shelley's Francolin

Scleroptila shelleyi
A photo of a Swainson's Spurfowl (Pternistis swainsonii)

Swainson's Spurfowl

Pternistis swainsonii
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