Phasianidae

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.

Distribution
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.

Description
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 coloured plumage as well as facial ornamentations such as wattles or crests.

Behaviour
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
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. Several species are threatened by human activities.

Subfamily Rollulinae
Genus Xenoperdix
 * Rubeho Forest Partridge, Xenoperdix obscuratus
 * Udzungwa Forest Partridge, Xenoperdix udzungwensis

Genus Caloperdix
 * Ferruginous Partridge, Caloperdix oculea

Genus Melanoperdix
 * Black Wood-partridge, Melanoperdix nigra

Genus Rollulus
 * Crested Partridge, Rollulus roulroul

Genus Arborophila, the hill partridges
 * Hill Partridge, Arborophila torqueola
 * Sichuan Partridge, Arborophila rufipectus
 * Chestnut-breasted Partridge, Arborophila mandellii
 * White-necklaced Partridge, Arborophila gingica
 * Rufous-throated Partridge, Arborophila rufogularis
 * White-cheeked Partridge, Arborophila atrogularis
 * Taiwan Partridge, Arborophila crudigularis
 * Hainan Partridge, Arborophila ardens
 * Chestnut-bellied Partridge, Arborophila javanica
 * Grey-breasted Partridge, Arborophila orientalis
 * Bar-backed Partridge, Arborophila brunneopectus
 * Orange-necked Partridge, Arborophila davidi
 * Chestnut-headed Partridge, Arborophila cambodiana
 * Red-breasted Partridge, Arborophila hyperythra
 * Red-billed Partridge, Arborophila rubrirostris
 * Scaly-breasted Partridge, Arborophila chloropus
 * Chestnut-necklaced Partridge, Arborophila charltonii
 * Sumatran Partridge, Arborophila sumatrana
 * Vietnam Partridge, Arborophila merlini

Incertae sedis
Genus Tropicoperdix
 * Green-legged Partridge, Tropicoperdix chloropus
 * Chestnut-necklaced Partridge, Tropicoperdix charltonii

Tribe Pavonini
Genus Rheinartia
 * Crested Argus, Rheinartia ocellata

Genus Argusianus
 * Great Argus, Argusianus argus
 * Double-banded Argus, Argusianus bipunctatus (most likely a mutant of the Great)

Genus Afropavo
 * Congo Peacock, Afropavo congensis

Genus Pavo
 * Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus
 * Green Peafowl, Pavo muticus

Tribe Polyplectronini
Genus Haematortyx
 * Crimson-headed Partridge, Haematortyx sanguiniceps

Genus Galloperdix
 * Red Spurfowl, Galloperdix spadicea
 * Painted Spurfowl, Galloperdix lunulata
 * Sri Lanka Spurfowl, Galloperdix bicalcarata

Genus Polyplectron, peacock-pheasants
 * Bronze-tailed Peacock-Pheasant, Polyplectron chalcurum
 * Mountain Peacock-Pheasant, Polyplectron inopinatum
 * Germain's Peacock-Pheasant, Polyplectron germaini
 * Grey Peacock-Pheasant, Polyplectron bicalcaratum
 * Hainan Peacock-Pheasant, Polyplectron katsumatae
 * Malayan Peacock-Pheasant, Polyplectron malacense
 * Bornean Peacock-Pheasant, Polyplectron schleiermacheri
 * Palawan Peacock-Pheasant, Polyplectron emphanum

Tribe Gallini
Genus Peliperdix
 * Latham's Francolin, Peliperdix lathami

Genus Francolinus
 * Grey Francolin, Francolinus pondicerianus
 * Crested Francolin, Francolinus sephaena
 * Black Francolin, Francolinus francolinus
 * Painted Francolin, Francolinus pictus
 * Chinese Francolin, Francolinus pintadeanus
 * Swamp Francolin, Francolinus gularis

Genus Bambusicola
 * Mountain Bamboo-Partridge, Bambusicola fytchii
 * Chinese Bamboo-Partridge, Bambusicola thoracica
 * Taiwan Bamboo-Partridge, Bambusicola sonorivox

Genus Gallus
 * Red Junglefowl, Gallus gallus
 * Chicken, Gallus gallus domesticus
 * Sri Lanka Junglefowl, Gallus lafayetii
 * Grey Junglefowl, Gallus sonneratii
 * Green Junglefowl, Gallus varius

Genus Scleroptila
 * Coqui Francolin, Scleroptila coqui
 * White-throated Francolin, Scleroptila albogularis
 * Schlegel's Francolin, Scleroptila schlegelii
 * Ring-necked Francolin, Scleroptila streptophorus
 * Red-winged Francolin, Scleroptila levaillantii
 * Finsch's Francolin, Scleroptila finschi
 * Moorland Francolin, Scleroptila psilolaemus
 * Archer's Francolin, Scleroptila gutturalis
 * Shelley's Francolin, Scleroptila shelleyi
 * Orange River Francolin, Scleroptila levaillantoides
 * Grey-winged Francolin, Scleroptila africanus

Tribe Tetraogallini
Genus Ammoperdix
 * See-see Partridge, Ammoperdix griseogularis
 * Sand Partridge, Ammoperdix heyi

Genus Synoicus
 * Brown Quail, Synoicus ypsilophorus

Genus Excalfactoria
 * King Quail, Excalfactoria chinensis
 * Blue Quail, Excalfactoria adansonii

Genus Margaroperdix
 * Madagascan Partridge, Margaroperdix madagarensis

Genus Anurophasis
 * Snow Mountains Quail, Anurophasis monorthonyx

Genus Coturnix
 * Canary Islands Quail, Coturnix gomerae (fossil)
 * New Zealand Quail, Coturnix novaezelandiae (extinct)
 * Common Quail, Coturnix coturnix
 * Japanese Quail, Coturnix japonica
 * Rain Quail, Coturnix coromandelica
 * Harlequin Quail, Coturnix delegorguei
 * Stubble Quail, Coturnix pectoralis

Genus Tetraogallus
 * Caucasian Snowcock, Tetraogallus caucasicus
 * Caspian Snowcock, Tetraogallus caspius
 * Himalayan Snowcock, Tetraogallus himalayensis
 * Tibetan Snowcock, Tetraogallus tibetanus
 * Altai Snowcock, Tetraogallus altaicus

Genus Alectoris
 * Arabian Partridge, Alectoris melanocephala
 * Przevalski's Partridge, Alectoris magna
 * Rock Partridge, Alectoris graeca
 * Chukar Partridge, Alectoris chukar
 * Philby's Partridge, Alectoris philbyi
 * Barbary Partridge, Alectoris barbara
 * Red-legged Partridge, Alectoris rufa

Genus Ophrysia
 * Himalayan Quail, Ophrysia superciliosa

Genus Perdicula
 * Jungle Bush Quail, Perdicula asiatica
 * Rock Bush Quail, Perdicula argoondah
 * Painted Bush Quail, Perdicula erythrorhyncha
 * Manipur Bush Quail, Perdicula manipurensis

Genus Pternistis
 * Hartlaub's Francolin, Pternistis hartlaubi
 * Double-spurred Francolin, Pternistis bicalcaratus
 * Heuglin's Francolin, Pternistis icterorhynchus
 * Clapperton's Francolin, Pternistis clappertoni
 * Harwood's Francolin, Pternistis harwoodi
 * Red-billed Spurfowl, Pternistis adspersus
 * Cape Spurfowl, Pternistis capensis
 * Natal Spurfowl, Pternistis natalensis
 * Hildebrandt's Francolin, Pternistis hildebrandti
 * Scaly Francolin, Pternistis squamatus
 * Ahanta Francolin, Pternistis ahantensis
 * Grey-striped Francolin, Pternistis griseostriatus
 * Yellow-necked Spurfowl, Pternistis leucoscepus
 * Grey-breasted Spurfowl, Pternistis rufopictus
 * Red-necked Spurfowl, Pternistis afer
 * Swainson's Spurfowl, Pternistis swainsonii
 * Jackson's Francolin, Pternistis jacksoni
 * Handsome Francolin, Pternistis nobilis
 * Mount Cameroon Francolin, Pternistis camerunensis
 * Swierstra's Francolin, Pternistis swierstrai
 * Chestnut-naped Francolin, Pternistis castaneicollis
 * Erckel's Francolin, Pternistis erckelii
 * Djibouti Francolin, Pternistis ochropectus

Tribe Ithaginini
Genus Ithaginis
 * Blood Pheasant, Ithaginis cruentus

Tribe Lophophorini
'Genus Tragopan''
 * Western Tragopan, Tragopan melanocephalus
 * Satyr Tragopan, Tragopan satyra
 * Blyth's Tragopan, Tragopan blythii
 * Temminck's Tragopan, Tragopan temminckii
 * Cabot's Tragopan, Tragopan caboti

'Genus Lerwa''
 * Snow Partridge, Lerwa lerwa

'Genus Tetraophasis''
 * Verreaux's Monal-Partridge, Tetraophasis obscurus
 * Szechenyi's Monal-Partridge, Tetraophasis szechenyii

'Genus Lophophorus''
 * Himalayan Monal, Lophophorus impejanus
 * Sclater's Monal, Lophophorus sclateri
 * Chinese Monal, Lophophorus lhuysii

Tribe Tetraonini
'Genus Pucrasia''
 * Koklass Pheasant, Pucrasia macrolopha

'Genus Meleagris''
 * Wild Turkey, Meleagris gallopavo
 * Ocellated Turkey, Meleagris ocellata

Genus Bonasa
 * Ruffed Grouse, Bonasa umbellus

Genus Tetrastes
 * Hazel Grouse, Tetrastes bonasia
 * Chinese Grouse, Tetrastes sewerzowi

Genus Centrocercus - sage grouse
 * Sage Grouse, Centrocercus urophasianus
 * Gunnison Grouse, Centrocercus minimus

Genus Dendragapus
 * Dusky Grouse, Dendragapus obscurus
 * Sooty Grouse, Dendragapus fuliginosus

Genus Tympanuchus - prairie grouse
 * Sharp-tailed Grouse, Tympanuchus phasianellus
 * Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse, T. phasianellus columbianus
 * Greater Prairie Chicken, Tympanuchus cupido
 * Attwater's Prairie Chicken, Tympanuchus cupido attwateri
 * Heath Hen, Tympanuchus cupido cupido (extinct, 1932)
 * Lesser Prairie Chicken Tympanuchus pallidicinctus

Genus Lagopus - ptarmigans
 * Willow Ptarmigan, Lagopus lagopus
 * Red Grouse, Lagopus (lagopus) scoticus
 * Rock Ptarmigan, Lagopus muta
 * White-tailed Ptarmigan, Lagopus leucura

Genus Falcipennis
 * Siberian Grouse, Falcipennis falcipennis
 * Franklin's Grouse, Falcipennis (canadensis) franklinii

Genus Canachites
 * Spruce Grouse, Canachites canadensis

Genus Tetrao - black grouse
 * Western Capercaillie, Tetrao urogallus
 * Black-billed Capercaillie, Tetrao parvirostris

'Genus Lyrurus''
 * Black Grouse, Lyrurus tetrix
 * Caucasian Grouse, Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi

Tribe Phasianini
'Genus Perdix''
 * Tibetan Partridge, Perdix hodgsoniae
 * Grey Partridge, Perdix perdix
 * Daurian Partridge, Perdix dauurica

'Genus Syrmaticus'', Long-tailed Pheasants
 * Reeve's Pheasant, Syrmaticus reevesi
 * Elliot's Pheasant, Syrmaticus ellioti
 * Mrs. Hume's Pheasant, Syrmaticus humiae
 * Mikado Pheasant, Syrmaticus mikado
 * Copper Pheasant, Syrmaticus soemmerringi

'Genus Phasianus'', Typical Pheasants
 * Green Pheasant Phasianus versicolor
 * Common Pheasant, Phasianus colchicus

Genus Chrysolophus, Ruffed Pheasants
 * Golden Pheasant, Chrysolophus pictus
 * Lady Amherst's Pheasant, Chrysolophus amherstiae

Genus Catreus
 * Cheer Pheasant, Catreus wallichii

Genus Crossoptilon, Eared Pheasants
 * White-eared Pheasant, Crossoptilon crossoptilon
 * Tibetan Eared Pheasant, Crossoptilon harmani
 * Brown Eared Pheasant, Crossoptilon mantchuricum
 * Blue Eared Pheasant, Crossoptilon auritum

Genus Lophura, Gallopheasants
 * Siamese Fireback, Lophura diardi
 * Crested Fireback, Lophura ignita
 * Crestless Fireback, Lophura erythrophthalma
 * Hoogerwerf's Pheasant, Lophura hoogerwerfi
 * Salvadori's Pheasant, Lophura inornata
 * Bulwer's Pheasant, Lophura bulweri
 * Kalij Pheasant, Lophura leucomelanos
 * Silver Pheasant, Lophura nycthemera
 * Swinhoe's Pheasant, Lophura swinhoii
 * Edward's Pheasant, Lophura edwardsi