Phasianidae Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies
Version: 1.0 — Published March 4, 2020
Introduction
Through the humble chicken, humans have developed a close relationship with this group of birds. Yet what splendid relatives barnyard chickens can boast—an array of species that strut their feathered finery often in elaborate mating rituals. Their brilliant plumages and feathered ruffs bring nothing short of royalty to mind. The Indian peacock’s beguiling feather eye-spots and its dazzling display have made it one of the most recognizable birds worldwide. In addition to showy plumage, the males of many species sport spectacular wattles, patterned airsacs, and crests. All of these adaptations have undergone intense sexual selection, and the female in most species chooses and mates with a male, then takes on all parental duties without his assistance.
Habitat
Phasianids live in pretty much all terrestrial habitats, from Arctic and alpine tundra to grasslands and deserts to humid tropical rainforest.
Diet and Foraging
Most phasianids are omnivorous, eating a wide variety of foods, including leaves, seeds, berries, insects and other invertebrates, and small vertebrates. Some such as grouse, however, are almost entirely herbivorous, taking insects only during the first few weeks of life.
Breeding
The various species within Phasianidae exhibit a wide diversity of breeding strategies. Many species are polygynous, with grouse famous for their lek displays involving many male contestants, peacocks and turkeys displaying in smaller groups, and some like the Great Argus Argusianus argus displaying solo to attract as many mates as possible. Other species, such as the Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus, defend a territory with resources of value to females, and still other species are monogamous. The exaggerated plumages and displays of some phasianid males are meant to impress females, and they serve as excellent examples of sexual selection. Phasianids nest on the ground, usually in a shallow depression that is sometimes lined with dry leaves, generally concealed either under a bush or beside a rock. The number of eggs laid by a female varies widely among species, ranging from 4 to more than 20. The precocial chicks hatch after 14 to 30 days of incubation (longer in larger species). They leave the nest very shortly after hatching and remain with their parents (or just the female) to learn foraging techniques and receive protection. The female provides all the care in polygynous species. In monogamous species, the female incubates, but the male often helps tend the chicks.
Conservation Status
Many phasianid species are challenged by habitat destruction and hunting, with 68 species (36%) facing some level of conservation risk (31 NT, 25 VU, 9 EN, 3 CR). Although the critically endangered Himalayan Quail Ophrysia superciliosa has not been recorded with certainty since 1876, populations may still exist because the species is extremely difficult to detect. The critically endangered Djibouti Francolin Francolinus ochropectus has an extremely small and fragmented range, within which the population appears to be declining dramatically.
Systematics History
Phasianids appear to be sister to the New World quails, and these two families are in turn sister to the guineafowls (Dimcheff et al. 2002, Crowe et al. 2006, Cox et al. 2007, Hackett et al. 2008, Kimball & Braun 2008, Bonilla et al. 2010, Kimball et al. 2011, Wang et al. 2013). Recent molecular phylogenetic studies support the inclusion in Phasianidae of both the grouse and the turkeys, which were previously often placed in their own families (Sibley & Ahlquist 1990, Shibusawa et al. 2004, Kriegs et al. 2007, Eo et al. 2009). The placement of genera within Phasianidae here generally follows the arrangement in del Hoyo and Collar (2014) with adjustments from Kimball et al. (2011) for the placement of Perdix and Pucrasia and for the paraphyletic nature of Pavonini.
Conservation Status
Least Concern |
62.4%
|
---|---|
Near Threatened |
15.1%
|
Vulnerable |
11.8%
|
Endangered |
5.4%
|
Critically Endangered |
2.7%
|
Extinct in the Wild |
0%
|
Extinct |
0.54%
|
Not Evaluated |
0%
|
Data Deficient |
0.54%
|
Unknown |
1.6%
|
Data provided by IUCN (2023) Red List. More information