Red Jungle Fowl (Junglefowl) Gallus gallus

The Red Jungle Fowl was said by Darwin to be the original ancestor of the Domestic Chicken (which it looks just like). It is native to northeast India, southern China, Indonesia and Malaysia.

A tropical member of the pheasant family, like pheasants the male is much more colourful than the female (above centre) since the hen needs camouflage as the sole carer of the eggs and chicks. Like chickens, the cockerel will have a harem of hens.

Other Jungle Fowl species, especially the Grey Jungle Fowl (not shown), are also said to be ancestors of some chicken breeds, directly and via hybrids.

Red Jungle Fowl chick and hen.