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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
When I think of dedicating something to someone one respects so much, there is first, the fear of whether what you're doing is good enough and second, the issue of does it matter?
This is a shot I could not miss, I was driving my SUV when high up in this jungle of green trees, my sister, who was with me, pointed out this Jungle fowl (This is the Indian variety (Gallus Gallus Murghi).It was pouring, but I sat on the window sill of my door and got a couple of shots of this lovely bird.
I do hope you like it, Howard...
Thanks for the constant encouragement!
Red Junglefowl Facts
Scientific Classification: Kingdom-Animalia, Phylum-Chordata, Subphylum-Vertabrata, Class-Avies, Order-Galliformes, Family-Phasiandae, Genus-Gallus (all Junglefowl), Red Species-Gallus gallus
Along with Red Junglefowl there are three other species of Junglefowl, making a total of four species of Junglefowl, which are all within the genus, Gallus. The four species of Junglefowl are:
1) Javanese Green Junglefowl (Gallus varius) - Java & neighboring islands (Madura, Kangean, Bawean, Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores, Alor at low elevations. Introduced but probably not extirpated from the Cocos-Keeling Islands. (Johnsgard 1999). Male weight: 1 lb 12 oz; Female weight: 1 lb 4 oz (Beebe 1922).
2) Ceylonese Junglefowl (Gallus lafayettei) - Ceylon (Sri Lanka)
It inhabits coastal scrub to damp mountain forests from sea level to 6,000 ft (1830 m). (Johnsgard 1999). Male weight: 2 lbs 4 oz to 2 lbs 8 oz; Female weight: 1 lb 4 oz to 1 lb 12 oz (Beebe 1922).
3) Indian Grey Junglefowl (Gallus sonnerati) - Central to South and West India; Penninsular India north to southern Rajasthan (Mount Abu), Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh to Polavaram. This species inhabits evergreen as well as scrub, bamboo, teak and mixed deciduous forests from plains level to 5000 ft (1525 m). (Johnsgard 1999). Male weight: 1 lb 9 oz to 2 lbs 9.5 oz; Female weight: 1 lb 9 oz to 1 lb 12 oz (Beebe 1922).
4) Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus) - Widespread in Southeast Asia, north to the lower range of the Himalayas (up to about 6,600 ft (2,010 m) from northeastern Pakistan eastward to Assam and southward to at least 17 degrees North latitude on both banks of the Godavari River, where it encounters Grey Junglefowl (Gallus sonnerati) and locally hybridizes with it. This species also extends east through Burma, across much of Indochina, and on the islands of Java, Sumatra and Bali. The Red Junglefowl has been introduced widely and occurs as domesticated varieties almost worldwide. (Johnsgard 1999). Male weight: 2 lbs 4 oz to 2 lbs 8 oz (Atknison 1928); Female weight: 1 lb 2 oz to 1 lb 10 oz (Beebe 1922).
*The weights listed are probably not accurate for all Junglefowl flocks and should not be used to access purity.
*Delacour stated that Junglefowl tend to grow larger in captivity.
*There is some controversy concerning whether the Red Junglefowl is indigenous or introduced in some areas, such as in the Philippines and Santa Cruz Island of the Solomon Islands, but many of the Red Junglefowl in the Philippines show all the wild-type traits including very tiny to non-visible combs in females. Until we have solid evidence to prove they have not been introduced into the Philippines, I am going to consider them a native species to the Philippines. Even if all or most of them are contaminated, some appear to have reverted back to wild-type, so are worthy of some degree of merit.
*Reports of Red Junglefowl in Hawaii appear to be feral domestic Game Chickens that have escaped from farms, as some have plumage colors not common to Red Junglefowl, but commonly found among certain breeds of domestic chickens, such as Silver Duckwing Greys. Many of these feral fowl also appear to have white and yellow legs which are common among the domestic Game Chickens kept in Hawaii, but which are uncharacteristic of Red Junglefowl, which are typically dark-legged. There have also been reports that storms have blown over many of the coops on Game Chicken farms in Hawaii, allowing many of these fowl to go feral
Red Junglefowl Subspecies
Scientists classify Red Junglefowl into five separate subspecies based on variation in home ranges, size of combs and facial wattles, size and color of earlobes, and length and color of male hackle feathers. The shade of red in the male hackle and saddle varies from golden yellow to deep orangey red. There is also some natural variation in some of these traits as well as in the depth of brown coloration in females. These traits can sometimes vary within the same subspecies. Also some of the home ranges of different subspecies overlap, thus allowing for interbreeding between subspecies, which may account for intermediate traits.
1. Cochin-Chinese (Gallus gallus gallus) - Cochin-China, Cambodia, and nearby islands, Vietnam (except extreme north), central and lower Laos, and eastern Thailand. It intergrades with Tonkinese (jaboullei) in North Vietnam (Johnsgard 1999) and Burmese (spadiceus) near their respective boundaries. These tend to have very long hackles, that in the male, are orangey-red to golden with orange-tips that are pointed, and have a narrow, brown middle strip; earlobes usually large and white.
2. Burmese (Gallus gallus spadiceus) - Southwestern Yunnan, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand (except extreme east) northern Laos, Malaysia and northern Sumatra. It intergrades with Cochin-Chinese (gallus), Indian (murghi), Tonkinese (jaboullei), and Javan (bankiva) near their respective boundaries (Johnsgard 1999). These tend to have medium length hackles, that in the male, are light orangey-red to golden with orange tips that are pointed and have a narrow, brown middle stripe; earlobes red or white and small or large.
3. Indian (Gallus gallus murghi) - Northern and northeastern India, the lower ranges of the Himalayas from southern Kashmir and northeastern Pakistan eastward through northern and east-central India to Assam. Rarely from the plains to 7,000 ft (2,135 m), normally not above the foothills; in sal forests and adjacent scrub (Johnsgard 1999). It intergrades with Burmese (spadiceus) near their respective boundaries. These tend to have very long hackles, that in the male, are light orangey-red to golden with yellow tips that are pointed and have a middle stripe that is most often wide and black, but can be narrow and brown or so faint it is almost undistinguishable; earlobes red, white or mixed and small or large. Individuals found in the more northerly regions of murghi's range tend to have small, red earlobes with the males having smaller combs than murghi males in more southern regions of its range. Individuals found in the more southern regions of murghi's range tend to have large, white learlobes, with the males having larger combs. Individuals found in far east central India tend to have small, white earlobes and have longer legs and shorter tails.
4. Tonkinese (Gallus gallus jabouillei) - North Vietnam (Tonkin), extreme southeast of Yunnan, Kwangsi, Kwangtung and Hainan. It intergrades with Burmese (spadiceus) in northwestern Tonkin (Johnsgard 1999). Compared to Cochin-Chinese, Burmese and Indian subspecies, these tend to have shorter length hackles, that in the male, are darker orangey red with pointed tips; male comb usually tends to be smaller than most other subspecies, but so do many murghi males in the more northern areas of their range; earlobes usually small and red.
5. Javan (Gallus gallus bankiva or Gallus gallus ferrugineus) - Indonesia; southern half of Sumatra, Java and Bali (Johnsgard 1999). It intergrades with Burmese (spadiceus) near their respective boundaries. These tend to have shorter length hackles with somewhat blunt tips, and in the male, are often darker orangey red than most other subspecies aside from Tonkinese; earlobes usually small and red.
Scientific Method For Subspecies Identification
I. Broad hackles (neck feathers) with somewhat blunt tips: Javan RJF (Gallus gallus bankiva).
II. Hackles with narrow, pointed tips: (4 possible subspecies).
A. Shorter length hackles that are dark red in male; comb small; small earlobes that are usually red: Tonkinese RJF (Gallus gallus jabouillei).
III. Long hackles that are orangish-red to light golden in male (3 possible subspecies).
A. Yellow-tipped male hackles that usually have a broad, blackish stripe through their center: Indian RJF (Gallus gallus murghi).
IV. Orange-tipped male hackles, with brownish and narrower middle stripe (2 possible subspecies).
A. Very long hackles; earlobes large and white: Cochin-Chinese RJF (Gallus gallus gallus).
V. Medium length hackles; earlobes small and usually red: Burmese RJF (Gallus gallus spadiceus).
*According to the results of mitochondrial DNA testing by the Yamashina Institute for Ornithology, there were no discernible genetic differences among G. g. gallus (Cochin-Chinese RJF) and G. g. spadiceus (Burmese RJF) subspecies; However, G. g. bankiva (Javan RJF) was a notable exception. This was because G. g. spadiceus and a continental population of G. g. gallus formed a single cluster in the phylogenetic tree. G.g. bankiva, on the other hand, was a distinct entity, thus deserving its subspecies status. The genomes of G. g. murghi (Indian RJF) and G. g. jabouillei (Tonkinese RJF) were not analyzed in this study. (Yamashina Institute for Ornithology, Japan)
Red Jungle Fowl Unique Features and Other Info
One characteristic of most Red Junglefowl in the wild that is not common in domestic chickens, is the double-molt or 'eclipse molt'. In most wild Red Junglefowl males, the long, bright, ornamental feathers of the hackle (neck), saddle (back and rump), and wingbow are replaced by short, rounded, blackish feathers for a short time at the end of the breeding season. This is sometimes referred to as the 'post-breeding plumage'. During eclipse the males typically become infertile, the comb and wattles shrink, and the face becomes paler. The crow also becomes shorter and ends more abruptly than normal, although the Red Junglefowl male's crow in general is shorter and ends more abruptly than that of most standard size domestic roosters, and is more comparable to that of certain bantam breeds. Red Junglefowl females also eclipse molt, but it is not as visibly apparent in the female as it is in the male, because there is a less pronounced difference between the female's eclipse plumage and normal plumage. The Indian Grey Junglefowl also goes through the eclipse molt. The eclipse molt usually begins some time between late June through early October and is usually over by late October or November. The particular month in which the eclipse is finished, is dependent on when the bird starts the eclipse molt process, and it may vary from bird to bird. The eclipse plumage is carried for a few months, then the bird molts again, at which time the eclipse plumage is replaced with the normal plumage or 'breeding plumage', which it will carry until the next molting season.
Red Junglefowl have single combs. The size of the comb in Red Junglefowl males is often, but not always, smaller than that of many single-combed breeds of domestic chickens, but it varies considerably. {Studies by scientists at the University of New Mexico suggest that the size of the male's comb and other facial features are somewhat effected by testosterone levels. These studies suggest that higher testosterone levels account for males that have larger combs, crow more frequently, rank higher in the order of dominance and have a better chance of attracting a mate. (J. D. Ligon, T.H. Parker, Univ. of NM).} Red Junglefowl hens in the wild typically have very small to visually non-existent combs and wattles. The wild Red Junglefowl female's comb is often no more visible than a small, notched ridge or just a few tiny protuberences.
The color of the Red Junglefowl's leg shanks range from a slaty or leaden bluish gray, to slaty green or plumbeous brownish green or carp. Fully mature cocks have sharp spurs that average about 1 1/2 inches in length.
The tail is not a fixed member, and its carriage is conditional and dependent on such things as mental state or the specific activity the bird is engaged in. The tail angle is not reliable for accesseing purity.
Habitat: Field edges, thickets, groves and scrubland, from rainforests to dry-lands in Southeast Asia.
Feeding Habits: Omnivorous; grasses and weeds, seeds, grains, nuts, fruit, insects, spiders, crustaceans, worms, slugs, leeches, small amphibians and reptiles, egg shells, tiny stones, and baby mice on rare occasions.
Breeding Season: Typically March - August, but can occur January - November.
Clutch Size: Typically 5-6, but can be 1-11.
Egg Shell Color: Varies from creamy white to light brown.
Incubation Period: 18-21 days.
Status in Native Habitat: Considered common, but it is believed that a large number of Red Junglefowl in the wild have interbred with feral domestic chickens.
Status in Captivity: Red Junglefowl of the pure wild-form are disturbingly uncommon in captivity. There are great numbers of fowl that are claimed to be Red Junglefowl, but there are few flocks that are not a product of interbreeding with domestic chickens somewhere down the line. |
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