Back to photostream

Red spurfowl pair

The Red Spurfowl , *Galloperdix spadicea* , is a member of

the pheasant family which is endemic to India.

It is a bird of dry forests and cultivation, which is a quite secretive bird, and despite

its size is difficult to see as it slips through the undergrowth. Often

the first indication of its presence is its distinctive call.

This

spurfowl is one of three species of bird in the genus Galloperdix. It is

a ground nesting bird, which lays 3-5 eggs in a scrape. It is a plump,

36 cm long bird. Both sexes have a red facial skin patch and red legs.

The adult male has a grey head and neck, with most of the rest of the

plumage rufous in colour with white scaling. The female has a grey head,

and brown upperparts mottled with black. The underparts are rufous with

dark barring. The male of the distinctive Kerala race, G. s. stewarti

has all-chestnut plumage, including the head feathers. Like most of the

pheasant family, Red Spurfowl is a terrestrial species. It scratches

vigorously amongst the leaf litter of the forest floor for various

seeds, fallen fruit and insects. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Spurfowl

 

 

flickr.com/explore/interesting/2008/2/7/page7

7,256 views
28 faves
28 comments
Uploaded on February 8, 2008
Taken on February 7, 2008