Family Pheasants, Partridges, Turkeys, Grouse (Phasianidae)
Least Concern
Sri Lanka Junglefowl (Gallus lafayettii)
Taxonomy
French: Coq de Lafayette German: Ceylonhuhn Spanish: Gallo de Ceilán
Other common names:
Ceylon Junglefowl
Taxonomy:
Gallus Lafayetii
Lesson
, 1831,India; error = Sri Lanka
.Distribution:
Sri Lanka.
Descriptive notes
Male 66–72 cm, 790–1140 g; female c. 35 cm, 510–625 g. Compared to G. gallus, wattles and combs are less developed in both sexes, and has red legs... read more
Voice
Territorial call a short, emphatic and deliberately-spaced, raucous crowing phrase comprising three... read more
Habitat
Coastal scrub to mountain forest, from sea-level up to 2300 m, probably favouring dry forest, but... read more
Food and feeding
Eight birds shot in Mar had wide variety of food remains in gut, including grass seeds, seed pods, berries and flower petals, scarab... read more
Breeding
Eggs apparently found in all months, with Feb–May most usual; in N Sri Lanka, Feb–Aug; in E, at Batticaloa, Feb–Oct.... read more
Movements
Believed to be sedentary, although fruiting Strobilanthes apparently attracts birds from a... read more
Status and conservation
Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Mace Lande: safe. No recent information on status. Apparently tolerates human disturbance and habitat degradation well. Species has... read more
Spelling of scientific name emended, as vernacular name “Coq Lafayette” in original description implies a lapsus. Closely related to G. gallus and G. sonneratii. Proposed race xanthimaculatus (from dry N province) not currently accepted. Monotypic.