Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus), in transitional plumage, family Phasianidae, Alaska

photograph by Kristina Ellis

[2758/11080] Crested fireback - Lophura ...

The crested fireback has been split into the Bornean crested fireback L. ignita (top photo), and the Malayan crested fireback L. rufa (bottom photo).

Order: Galliformes Family: Phasianidae Subfamily: Phasianinae

Photo credit: Charmain Ang / Prof.Dr. Ahmet Karatash

Bulwer's pheasant (Lophura bulweri) displays its tail in Pairi Daiza Zoo, Belgium

by safi kok

Golden Pheasant

Uncharismatic Fact of the Day

A partridge in a pear tree is a welcome gift- especially if you like eggs. The grey partridge lays the most eggs in a clutch of any species-- up to 20 at a time!

(Image: A grey partridge (Perdix perdix) by Tatiana Bulyonkova)

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Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta)

© pas.sionphoto

[image description: a doodle of a peafowl proudly displaying its neck feathers in baby blue, hot pink and a faint white. the same colours outline a peacock's tail behind it. end ID.]

097 self made

Green Peafowl (Pavo muticus)

© eddy lee

Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta)

Family: Pheasant Family (Phasianidae) 

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Common in Arctic and Subarctic regions of Europe and North America as well as in cold, mountainous regions of Asia and central Europe, the Rock Ptarmigan is a terrestrial bird that inhabits snowy tundras and mountainsides where it lives alone or in small flocks and feeds on leaves, seeds, buds, fruits and small invertebrates. In order to avoid predation (chiefly by larger birds such as Golden Eagles) they rely heavily on camouflage, and to facilitate this their plumage changes dramatically with the season: during the spring their feathers are largely brown or grey to allow them to blend in with rocks and grass, but as winter approaches they develop a thicker coat of white feathers that makes them difficult to distinguish from the snow around them. Males of this species (such as the individual pictured above) can be distinguished from females thanks to the fleshy red “combs” above their eyes which can be extended upwards to ward off rivals intruding on their territories. During the spring mating season, the eye combs may also be used as part of a dramatic courtship display in which several males gather together and simultaneously compete for the attention of nearby females by extending their combs, stretching out their tail feathers, flapping their wings, bobbing their heads and producing a deep, croaky call.

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Animal Advent Calendar - Day 6

Image Source: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/949-Lagopus-muta

Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta)

© pas.sionphoto

Himalayan Monal (Lophophorus impejanus), male, family Phasianidae, northern India

Photograph by Ajit Hota

Green Peafowl (Pavo muticus)

© jaraymk mekkaew

[2419/11080] Chukar partridge - Alectoris chukar

Order: Galliformes Family: Phasianidae Subfamily: Phasianinae

Photo credit: Rajkumar Das via Macaulay Library

A rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) at the side of Denali Highway, Alaska, USA

by Alan Gutsell

Sri Lankan Junglefowl

Uncharismatic Fact of the Day

Like most game birds, pheasants can't fly very well, but that doesn't stop them from trying! When threatened, the ring-necked pheasant can explode upwards, reaching a top speed of 25 kph (40 mph); this is enough to propel it a good 183 m (600 ft) away from potential predators-- and should they be pursued, they can run along the ground at speeds of up to 16 kph (10 mph).

(Image: A female (left) and male (right) ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) by Marcin Perkowski)

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