Sri Lanka Junglefowl

The Sri Lanka Junglefowl is a forest gamebird found only on the island of Sri Lanka, where it is the national bird. Males display rich orange-red body plumage with golden hackles, contrasting with dark purplish-black wings and tail, and are further set apart from other junglefowl by a comb showing an unusual yellow patch at its center rather than being uniformly red. Females are duller and cryptically patterned for camouflage.

• Body and hackles (male): rich orange-red overall with golden neck and saddle hackles.
• Wings and tail (male): dark purplish-black with a glossy sheen, contrasting sharply with the orange-red body.
• Comb: red with a distinctive yellow center patch, unlike the plain red combs of other junglefowl species—useful even when examining shed head feathering or photographs.
• Female plumage: cryptic brown and buff mottling, much plainer than the male.
• Tail shape: long and gently arched, though shorter than the Red Junglefowl's sickle feathers.

Males develop their full orange-red and dark-winged plumage after the first complete molt, while females remain camouflaged year-round. Juveniles resemble females until males mature. One complete annual molt maintains the male's vivid coloration.

This species is endemic to Sri Lanka, found in forest, forest edge, and adjacent scrub across the island from lowlands to hill country. It is non-migratory, remaining resident year-round.

Sri Lanka Junglefowl forage on the forest floor for seeds, fruit, and invertebrates, often in small family groups. Males give a crowing call distinct in rhythm from the domestic rooster's, and defend territories that include a few females. Nests are shallow ground scrapes hidden in dense understory. The species roosts in trees overnight.