Birds Guide

Phasianidae
Indian Peacock, Pavo cristatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia   Phylum: Chordata   Class: Aves   Order: Galliformes   Family: Phasianidae Horsfield, 1821
Genera
Many, see text

The Phasianidae is a family of birds which consists of the pheasants and their allies (including junglefowl, quail, and peacocks). The American Ornithological Union includes Tetraonidae, Numididae, and Meleagrididae in Phasianidae as subfamilies.

These are terrestrial species, variable in size but generally plump, with broad relatively short wings. Many have a spur on their legs. Males of the larger species are often brightly coloured. The typical diet consists of seeds with some insects and berries.

This large family has several groups, some of which correspond to a genus, others being loose collections of not particularly closely related genera.

Genera

• Quails:
  • Genus Coturnix (9 species)
    Anurophasis monorthonyx (Snow Mountain Quail)
    Genus Perdicula (4 species)
    Ophrysia superciliosa (Himalayan Quail)
• Partridges
  • Genus Alectoris (7 species)
    Genus Ammoperdix (2 species)
    Genus Arborophila (Hill Partridges, 18 species)
    Genus Bambusicola (Bamboo Partridges, 2 species)
    Caloperdix oculea (Ferruginous Wood Partridge)
    Haematortyx sanguiniceps (Crimson-headed Partridge)
    Lerwa lerwa (Snow Partridge)
    Margaroperdix madagascarensis (Madagascar Partridge)
    Melanoperdix nigra (Black Wood-partridge)
    Genus Perdix (3 species)
    Ptilopachus petrosus (Stone Partridge)
    Rhizothera longirostris (Long-billed Partridge)
    Rollulus rouloul (Crested Wood Partridge)
    Genus Xenoperdix (2 species)
• Pheasants:
  • Argusianus argus (Great Argus Pheasant)
    Catreus wallichi (Cheer Pheasant)
    Genus Chrysolophus (2 species)
    Genus Crossoptilon (Eared Pheasants, 4 species)
    Ithaginis cruentus (Blood Pheasant)
    Genus Lophura (10 species)
    Genus Phasianus (2 species)
    Genus Polyplectron (Peacock Pheasants, 7 species)
    Pucrasia macrolopha (Koklass Pheasant)
    Rheinartia ocellata (Crested Argus Pheasant)
    Genus Syrmaticus (5 species)

• Genus Tetraogallus (Snowcocks, 5 species)

• Genus Francolinus (Francolins, 41 species)

• Genus Galloperdix (Spurfowls, 3 species)

• Genus Tragopan (Tragopans, 5 species)

• Genus Lophophorus (Monals, 3 species)

• Peafowl:
  • Genus Pavo (2 species)
    Afropavo congolesis: (Congo Peafowl)

• Genus Gallus (Junglefowls including the domestic chicken, 5 species)

External links

• Phasianidae videos on the Internet Bird Collection
• Phasianidae at the Open Directory Project