font settings

Font Size: Large | Normal | Small
Font Face: Verdana | Geneva | Georgia

Phasianidae

(Family)

Overview

[ Back to top ]

The Phasianidae is a family of birds which consists of the pheasants and partridges, including the junglefowl (including chicken), Old World Quail, francolins, monals and peafowl. The family is a large one, and is occasionally broken up into two subfamilies, the Phasianinae, and the Perdicinae. Sometimes additional families and birds are treated as being in this family as well; the American Ornithologists' Union includes Tetraonidae (the grouse), Numididae (guineafowls), and Meleagrididae (turkeys) in Phasianidae as subfamilies.

The earliest fossil records of phasianids date to the late Oligocene epoch, about 30 million years ago.1]

Distribution

[ Back to top ]

The pheasants and their allies are an Old World family, with a distribution that includes most of Europe and Asia (except the far north), all of Africa except the driest desert s and down into much of eastern Australia and (formerly) New Zealand. The greatest diversity of species is in Southeast Asia and Africa. Amongst the pheasants, with the exception of the Congo Peafowl, the distribution is entirely restricted to Asia; the Perdicinae have a much more widespread distribution. Within their range they occupy almost every available habitat except for boreal forest and tundra.

The family is generally sedentary and resident, although some quails undertake long migrations. Several species in the family have been widely introduced around the world, particularly pheasants which have been introduced to Europe, Australia and the Americas. Captive populations of peacocks and chickens have also escaped and become feral.

Description

[ Back to top ]

Phasianids are terrestrial, ground living species. They are variable in size and ranging from 43 g, in the case of the King Quail, to 6 kg in the case of the Indian Peafowl. There is generally sexual dimorphism in size, with males tending to be larger than females. They are generally plump, with broad relatively short wings and strong legs. Many have a spur on their legs, a feature shared with guineafowl and turkeys but no other galliform birds. The bill is short and generally strong, particularly in species that dig in order to obtain food. Males of the larger species often have brightly colored plumage as well as facial ornamentations such as wattles or crests.

Behaviour

[ Back to top ]

The pheasants and partridges have a varied diet, with foods taken ranging from purely vegetarian diets of seeds, leaves, fruits, tubers and roots, to small animals including insects, insect grubs and even small reptiles. Most species either specialise in feeding on plant matter or are predatory, although the chicks of most species are insectivorous.

In addition to the variation in diet there is a considerable amount of variati on in breeding strategies amongst the Phasianidae. Compared to birds in general there is a large number of species that do not engage in monogamy (the typical breeding system of most birds). The francolins of Africa and some partridges are reportedly monogamous, but polygamy has been reported in the pheasants and junglefowl, some quail, and the breeding displays of peacocks have been compared to those of a lek. Nesting usually occurs on the ground; only the tragopans nest higher up in stumps of bushes. Nests can vary from monds of vegetation to slight scrapes in the ground. As many as 18 eggs can be laid in the nest, although 7-12 is the more usual number, with smaller numbers in tropical species. Incubation is almost always performed by the female only, and last from 14?30 days depending on the species.

Relationship with humans

[ Back to top ]

Several species of pheasant and partridge are extremely important to humans. The Red Junglefowl of Sout heast Asia is the wild ancestor of the domesticated chicken, the most important bird in agriculture. Ring-necked Pheasants, several partridge and quail species and some francolins have been widely introduced and managed as game birds for hunting. Several species are threatened by human activities.

Species List

[ Back to top ]
idae as subfamilies.

The earliest fossil records of phasianids date to the late Oligocene epoch, about 30 million years ago.1]

Distribu tion

[ Back to top ]

The pheasants and their allies are an Old World family, with a distribution that includes most of Europe and Asia (except the far north), all of Africa except the driest deserts and down into much of eastern Australia and (formerly) New Zealand. The greatest diversity of species is in Southeast Asia and Africa. Amongst the pheasants, with the exception of the Congo Peafowl, the distribution is entirely restricted to Asia; the Perdicinae have a much more widespread distribution. Within their range they occupy almost every available habitat except for boreal forest and tundra.

The family is generally sedentary and resident, although some quails undertake long migrations. Several species in the family have been widely introduced around the world, particularly pheasants which have been introduced to Europe, Australia and the Americas. Captive populations of peacocks and chickens have also escaped and become feral.

Descripti on

[ Back to top ]

Phasianids are terrestrial, ground living species. They are variable in size and ranging from 43 g, in the case of the King Quail, to 6 kg in the case of the Indian Peafowl. There is generally sexual dimorphism in size, with males tending to be larger than females. They are generally plump, with broad relatively short wings and strong legs. Many have a spur on their legs, a feature shared with guineafowl and turkeys but no other galliform birds. The bill is short and generally strong, particularly in species that dig in order to obtain food. Males of the larger species often have brightly colored plumage as well as facial ornamentations such as wattles or crests.

Behaviour

[ Back to top ]

The pheasants and partridges have a varied diet, with foods taken ranging from purely vegetarian diets of seeds, leaves, fruits, tubers and roots, to small animals including insects , insect grubs and even small reptiles. Most species either specialise in feeding on plant matter or are predatory, although the chicks of most species are insectivorous.

In addition to the variation in diet there is a considerable amount of variation in breeding strategies amongst the Phasianidae. Compared to birds in general there is a large number of species that do not engage in monogamy (the typical breeding system of most birds). The francolins of Africa and some partridges are reportedly monogamous, but polygamy has been reported in the pheasants and junglefowl, some quail, and the breeding displays of peacocks have been compared to those of a lek. Nesting usually occurs on the ground; only the tragopans nest higher up in stumps of bushes. Nests can vary from monds of vegetation to slight scrapes in the ground. As many as 18 eggs can be laid in the nest, although 7-12 is the more usual number, with smaller numbers in tropical species. Incubation is almost always performed by the female only, and last from 14?30 days depending on the species.

Relationship with humans

[ Back to top ]

Several species of pheasant and partridge are extremely important to humans. The Red Junglefowl of Southeast Asia is the wild ancestor of the domesticated chicken, the most important bird in agriculture. Ring-necked Pheasants, several partridge and quail species and some francolins have been widely introduced and managed as game birds for hunting. Several species are threatened by human activities.

Species List

[ Back to top ]

Taxonomy

[ Back to top ]

The Family Phasianidae is a member of the Superfamily Phasianoidea. Here is the complete "parentage" of Phasianidae:

The Family Phasianidae is further organized into finer groupings including:

Genera

[ Back to top ]

Acryllium

The Vulturine Guineafowl (Acryllium vulturinum) is the largest extant guineafowl species. Systematically, Acryllium are only distantly related to other guineafowl genera. Their closest living relative, the White Breasted Guineafowl, Agelastes meleagrides inhabit primary forests in Central Africa. bird family, Numididae, and is the only member of the genus Acryllium. It is a resident breeder in northeast Africa, from southern Ethiopia through Kenya and just into northern Tanzania. [more]

Afropavo

The Congo Peafowl (Afropavo congensis) is a species of peafowl. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Afropavo. [more]

Agelastes

Agelastes is a small genus of birds in the guineafowl family. It comprises two species: [more]

Agriocharis

The Ocellated Turkey (Meleagris ocellata) is a species of turkey residing primarily in the Yucat?n Peninsula. A relative of the more common Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), it was sometimes previously treated in a genus of its own (Agriocharis ocellata) but the differences between this species and Meleagris gallopavo are too small to justify generic segregation. It is relatively large bird, at around 70?122 cm (28?48 in) long and an average weight of 3 kg (6.6 lbs) in females and 5 kg (11 lbs) in males. [more]

Alectoris

Alectoris, is a genus of partridges with representatives in southern Europe, north Africa and Arabia, and across Asia in Pakistan to Tibet and western China. Members of the genus, notably the Chukar and Red-legged Partridge, have been introduced to the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Hawaii. In some countries, such as Great Britain, hybrids between the two widespread introduced species are common. [more]

Ammoperdix

Ammoperdix is a small genus in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes. It contains two similar species: [more]

Anurophasis

The Snow Mountains Quail (Anurophasis monorthonyx), also known as the Snow Mountain Quail, is a large, approximately 28 cm (11 in) long, dark brown quail of Alpine grasslands. It is the only member of the genus Anurophasis. It has a brown plumage, a horn-colored bill, yellow legs and a brown iris. The underparts of the female are whitish and more heavily black barred than in the male. [more]

Arborophila

Arborophila is a genus of bird in the Phasianidae family. It is a very diverse genus, having the second most members within the Galliformes after Francolinus. These are fairly small, often brightly marked partridges found in forests of eastern and southern Asia. Some species in this genus have small ranges, and are threatened by habitat loss and hunting. [more]

Argusiana

[more]

Argusianus

The genus Argusianus G.R. Gray, 1849 consists of two species of spectacularly plumaged pheasant with greatly elongated secondaries and central tail feathers. [more]

Bambusicola

Bambusicola is a genus of bird in the Phasianidae family. [more]

Caccabis

[more]

Callipepla

Callipepla (formerly Lophortyx) is a genus of in the Odontophoridae family, the New World quail. It contains the following species: [more]

Caloperdix

The Ferruginous Partridge (Caloperdix oculeus) is a species of in the Phasianidae family. It is found in Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand. [more]

Catreus

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[1] [more]

Ceriornis

[more]

Chalcurus

Chrysolophus

Chrysolophus is a of the pheasant family of birds. [more]

Chrysolphus

[more]

Colinus

Colinus is a genus of in the Odontophoridae family. It contains the following species: [more]

Coturnix

Coturnix is a genus of Old World quail in Phasianidae. [more]

Crossoptilon

The genus Crossoptilon consists of four species of eared . [more]

Cryptoplectron

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[2] [more]

Cyrtonyx

Cyrtonyx is a genus of in the Odontophoridae family. It contains the following species: [more]

Dactylortyx

Dactylortyx is a genus of in the Odontophoridae family. It contains the following species: [more]

Dendragapus

The genus Dendragapus, contains two closely related species of grouse that have often been treated as a single variable taxon (Blue Grouse). The two species are the Dusky Grouse (Dendragapus obscurus) and the Sooty Grouse (Dendragapus fuliginosus). In addition, the Spruce Grouse and Siberian Grouse have been considered part of this genus. [more]

Dendrortyx

Dendrortyx is a genus of in the Odontophoridae family. It contains the following species: [more]

Excalfactoria

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[3] [more]

Francolinus

The francolins are birds of the genus Francolinus. They are members of the pheasant family, Phasianidae. [more]

Galloperdix

The spurfowls are the three of bird in the genus Galloperdix of the pheasant family, Phasianidae. [more]

Gallus

Gallus may be: [more]

Gennaeus

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[4] [more]

Guttera

Guttera is a small genus of in the guineafowl family. The two species are found in forests of sub-Saharan Africa. Unlike other guineafowl, they have a distinctive black crest. [more]

Haematortyx

The Crimson-headed Partridge (Haematortyx sanguiniceps) is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family. It is found in Indonesia and Malaysia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. [more]

Hierophasis

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[5] [more]

Houppifer

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[6] [more]

Ithaginis

The Blood Pheasant (Ithaginis cruentus) is the only species in genus Ithaginis of the pheasant family. This relatively small, short-tailed pheasant is widespread and fairly common in eastern Himalayas, ranging across India, Nepal and Bhutan. Since the trend of the population appears to be slowly decreasing, the species has been evaluated as Least Concern by IUCN in 2009. [more]

Lerwa

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[7] [more]

Lophophorus

A Monal is a of genus Lophophorus of the Pheasant family, Phasianidae. There are three species and several sub-species within the genus Lophophorus. [more]

Lophortyx

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[8] [more]

Lophura

The gallopheasants (genus Lophura) are of the family Phasianidae. The genus comprises 12 species and several subspecies. [more]

Margaroperdix

The Madagascar Partridge (Margaroperdix madagascariensis) is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family. It is found only in Madagascar. [more]

Melanoperdix

The Black Partridge (Melanoperdix niger) also known as the Black Wood Partridge, is a small (up to 27 cm long) partridge with a thick bill, grey legs and dark brown iris. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Melanoperdix. [more]

Meleagridinae

Numida

The Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris) is the best known of the guineafowl bird family, Numididae, and the only member of the genus Numida. It breeds in Africa, mainly south of the Sahara, and has been widely introduced into the West Indies, Brazil, Australia and southern France. [more]

Odontophorus

The Wood Quails are birds in the genus Odontophorus of the New World quail family, which are residents in forests in the Americas. The core range of the genus is centred in the lowlands and foothills of the northern Andes of Colombia and the mountain ranges of Central America; however, some species occur elsewhere in tropical and subtropical South America. [more]

Ophrysia

The Himalayan Quail (Ophrysia superciliosa) is a medium-sized quail belonging to the pheasant family. It was last reported in 1876 and is feared extinct. This species was known from only 2 locations (and 12 specimens) in the western Himalayas in Uttarakhand, north-west India. The last verifiable record was in 1876. [more]

Oreortyx

The Mountain Quail (Oreortyx pictus) is a small ground-dwelling bird in the New World quail family. This species is the only one in the genus Oreortyx, which is sometimes included in Callipepla. This is not appropriate, however, as the Mountain Quail's ancestors have diverged from other New World quails earlier than the bobwhites, no later than 6 mya. [more]

Parapavo

[more]

Pavo

Pavo is: [more]

Pediocetes

Pedioecetes

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[9] [more]

Peliperdix

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[10] [more]

Perdicula

Perdicula is a of quail. [more]

Perdix

Perdix is a genus of partridges with representatives in most of temperate Europe and Asia. One member of the genus, the Grey Partridge, has been introduced to the United States and Canada. [more]

Phasianus

[more]

Polyplectron

The peacock-pheasants are a bird genus, Polyplectron, of the family Phasianidae, consisting of eight species. They are colored inconspicuously, relying on heavily on crypsis to avoid detection. When threatened, peacock-pheasants will alter their shapes utilising specialised plumage that when expanded reveals numerous iridescent orbs. The birds also vibrate their plume quills further accentuating their aposematism. Peacock-pheasants exhibit well developed metatarsal spurs. Older individuals may have multiple spurs on each leg. These kicking thorns are used in self-defense. [more]

Pternistes

[more]

Pternistis

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[11] [more]

Ptilopachus

Ptilopachus is an African genus of birds in the pheasant family. As traditionally defined, only the Stone Partridge was included in this genus, but based on genetic evidence it now also includes the Nahan's Partridge (formerly considered a francolin). The study also concludes that this genus is more closely related to the New World Quail, but many taxonomists still include this with the Phasianidae. At about 25 centimetres (9.8 in) in length, both are relatively small, terrestrial birds with a red eye-ring, base of the bill and legs, and brownish upperparts. [more]

Pucrasia

The Koklass Pheasant (Pucrasia macrolopha) is a species of the Pheasant family, the Phasianidae, and is the only species in the genus Pucrasia. [more]

Rheinardia

The Crested Argus genus (Rheinardia) are large and spectacular pheasant-like peafowl with dark-brown-spotted black and buff plumage, a heavy pink bill, brown irises and blue skin around the eyes. The head has two crests. The hind crest, which extends down the occiput is erected when alarmed and during intention behaviors including pair bonding and courtship displays. The male has a broad and greatly elongated tail of twelve feathers. He measures from 1.9?2.39 m (6.2?7.8 ft) in total length. The tail covert (or "train") of the male is the longest of any bird and is believed to contain the longest (and widest) feathers to occur in a wild bird; the Reeve's Pheasant has tail feathers of similar length but are considerably more narrow. The tail covert measure up to 1.73 m (5.7 ft) in length. The female is similar in size, with a prominent marbled barring and more colorful dorsal plumage than the male. Her conspicuous white facial plumage is like the male, marked with disruptive patternin g. The female's crest is different morphologically, with more rigid plumes that take up more surface area along the occiput and upper hind neck. The female's tail is elongated and laterally compressed as is that of the male but of considerably shorter length. The average length of the female is 0.75 m (2.5 ft). There are two species in genus Rheinardia. The Malaysian R. nigrescens, inhabits the Malaysian Isthmus and the Annamese inhabits the Annametic Mountain Range. Despite being sexually dimorphic galliform by length, the male only weighs about 20% more than the female. The average weight is around 1.5 kg (3.3 lb). The wings of the Crested Argus are of unusual size and length for its weight. They wide and square like those of Argusianus versus rounded and abbreviated like those of True Pheasants. Additionally, there is no discernible trailing edge secondary wing notch amongst the flight feathers, indicating a capacity of sustained flight in species of this genus. They are morpholo gically similar to the wings of certain semi-arboreal Craciformes, particularly Guans of the genus Pipile. The feet and legs of Crested Argus are also notable in the presence of curiously developed leg scales in males which are widened in such a matter that they give each limb the appearance of the foreleg of a Varanid Lizard. The toes are long and gracile and like other peafowls, the hind toe is less recumbant than those of more strictly terrestrial Galliformes. [more]

Rheinartia

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[12] [more]

Rhizothera

The Long-billed Partridge (Rhizothera longirostris) is a species of in the Phasianidae family. It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand. [more]

Rhynchortyx

The Tawny-faced Quail (Rhynchortyx cinctus) is a species of bird in the Odontophoridae family, and the only species in its genus Rhynchortyx. [more]

Rollulus

The Crested Partridge (Rollulus rouloul) also known as the Crested Wood Partridge, Roul-roul, Red-crowned Wood Partridge or Green Wood Partridge is a gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds. It is the only member of the genus Rollulus. [more]

Scleroptila

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[13] [more]

Symaticus

Synoicus

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[14] [more]

Syrmaticus

The genus Syrmaticus contains the five species of long-tailed pheasants. The males have short spurs and usually red facial wattles, but otherwise differ wildly in appearance. The hens (females) and chicks pattern of all the species have a rather conservative and plesiomorphic drab brown color pattern. 5 species are generally accepted in this genus. [more]

Tetrao

Tetrao is a genus of birds in the subfamily. [more]

Tetraogallus

The snowcocks are a group of species in the genus Tetraogallus of the pheasant family, Phasianidae. They are ground-nesting birds which breed in the mountain ranges of southern Eurasia from the Caucasus to the Himalayas and western China. The Himalayan Snowcock has been introduced successfully into the Ruby Mountains of Nevada, USA. Snowcocks feed on plants and plant seeds. [more]

Tetraophasis

Tetraophasis is a genus of in the Phasianidae family. It contains the following species: [more]

Tragopan

Tragopan is a genus of bird in the family Phasianidae. These birds are commonly called "horny pheasants" because of two brightly-colored, fleshy horns on their heads that they can erect during courtship displays. The scientific name refers to this, being a composite of tragus (billy goat) and the ribald half-goat deity Pan (and in the case of the Satyr Tragopan, adding Pan's companions for even more emphasis). Their habit of nesting in trees is unique among phasianids. [more]

Tropicoperdix

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[15] [more]

Tymphanuchus

Xenoperdix

The genus Xenoperdix ("strange partridge"), described only in 1994, consist of two species of African partridges that are most closely related to Southeast Asian Hill Partridges. [more]

At least 3 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Xenoperdix.

More info about the Genus Xenoperdix may be found here.

References

[ Back to top ]
  1. ^ Mayr G., Poschmann, M. and Wuttke, M. (2006). "A nearly complete skeleton of the fossil galliform bird Palaeortyx from the late Oligocene of Germany." Acta Ornithol., 41: 129?135. [1]

Bibliography

[ Back to top ]

Footnotes

[ Back to top ]
  1. http://www.ubio.org/browser/details.php?namebankID=2059
  2. http://www.ubio.org/browser/details.php?namebankID=22023
  3. http://www.ubio.org/browser/details.php?namebankID=22044
  4. http://www.ubio.org/browser/details.php?namebankID=22050
  5. http://www.ubio.org/browser/details.php?namebankID=22066
  6. http://www.ubio.org/browser/details.php?namebankID=22072
  7. http://www.ubio.org/browser/details.php?namebankID=2027
  8. http://www.ubio.org/browser/details.php?namebankID=22098
  9. http://www.ubio.org/browser/details.php?namebankID=22171
  10. http://www.ubio.org/browser/details.php?namebankID=2033
  11. http://www.ubio.org/browser/details.php?namebankID=2035
  12. http://www.ubio.org/browser/details.php?namebankID=25716
  13. http://www.ubio.org/browser/details.php?namebankID=2034
  14. http://www.ubio.org/browser/details.php?namebankID=22732
  15. http://www.ubio.org/browser/details.php?namebankID=22275

Sources

[ Back to top ]
Last Revised: August 24, 2012
2012/08/24 13:39:29