Most of us have seen these poultry more than once, but hardly thought about their biological classification. We believe that it will be more interesting to know more about these creatures than to continue to perceive them as an ordinary part of our lives. So, the topic of our article is poultry from the chicken squad.
Since this detachment has many dozens of species, and it will not be practical for us to consider each, we will get acquainted with the features of only those that we have to meet in our latitudes and in households. Let us dwell on some of the most common poultry.
General description of the detachment
The order of chicken birds is numerous. It consists of several families, which, in turn, unite more than two hundred species. Representatives of chicken are:
- Guinea fowl.
- Pheasants.
- Turkeys.
- Bigfoots (aka weed chickens).
- Wood chickens.
- Black grouse.
As well as other species living throughout the Earth, in a variety of natural conditions.
Representatives of these species are not very large or small. Poultry from the order of chicken is almost the whole of medium size.
The appearance of birds was formed depending on the habitat (more specifically, the surface of the earth and the totality of natural conditions on it). Since they are the prey of many predators, the color is often intended to mask the bird. They are distinguished by a small head, a dense body structure, a short neck, a small but strong beak. He is the main device for obtaining food. It is the seeds and vegetation.
Thanks to their wide and short wings, chickens can quickly take off, but noisy, in high tension. The legs of the representatives of the entire chicken squad are very strong.
These species are afraid of people and animals that hunt for them. These birds breed successfully.
Chicken birds cannot fly long distances. Only a quail is an exception to the rule, being capable of a longer flight. But they adapted to move well on the surface.
They are characterized by a bright, varied color of feathers. Females are smaller and more attractive than males. True, the latter characteristic is not inherent in all species. For example, males of peacocks are feathered more pretentiously, domestic roosters too.
Representatives of chickens are found on almost all continents. Next, we consider separately the species from the chicken order family. We saw almost every bird, but knew very little about it.
More about the turkey family
The Americans domesticated the turkey. In Europe, she was at the beginning of the XVI century thanks to sailors. A distinctive feature of the turkey is its large size. The male is always larger than the female. Turkeys are sometimes mistakenly classified as a separate species, but this is not the case. An adult turkey can weigh 30 kg, females weigh less (5-10 kg).
There are turkeys living in the wild (North and Central America).
The turkey attracts females with a bright beard, a skin process above the beak, catkins on the sides. The head is covered with red outgrowths (warts).
Turkeys come in several colors: white, gray with tints, black with white stains. When the turkey flows, its tail in the form of a fan opens, its wings drop and drag along the ground. He himself publishes a loud "kuldykanie".
Peacock Features
This bird is distinguished by plumage: it fascinates everyone with its fabulous beauty. Most often, peacocks are found in India and Sri Lanka. There is a crested bird peacock, Indochinese green peacocks, etc.
The plumage can be green, white, blue and sand-red shades. Peacocks are very dexterous, quickly moving through rainforests. They have been tamed for a long time and kept as decoration in zoos and courtyards.
The tail feathers are especially beautiful. They decorate the interior and costumes. The tail of a peacock in the dissolved form can reach 1.5-2 meters. The head of the peacock is decorated with a bright crest - just like a crown. Peacock feathers with a characteristic pattern in the form of an “eye”.
About pheasants
Pheasant - poultry from the order of chicken, related to cross-country. They quickly run away from danger and hide in the bushes. Pheasants are bright and have a long tail.
The female is less attractive, and her tail is shorter, has a dull brown spotted color. Pheasant legs with spurs. An adult weighs up to two kilograms. The pheasant lives in the reeds near the rivers, in the bushes near the forests. Males often fight among themselves over females.
Home guinea fowl
Guinea fowl are most often found in Africa. Both female and male have the same color. These birds are domesticated, but can be found in the wild. Guinea fowl are speckled gray.
They differ in short legs and tail. Very famous African guinea fowl. In size they reach the size of chickens. The domestic guinea fowl has a dark gray plumage with white and black spots. In case of danger, these birds run away or hide in the trees.
Bigfoot Family
Bigfoots are found in Australia and the Philippines. They do not hatch eggs, but buried in the soil, where they warm up under sunlight and heat. These birds live in rainforests. They can take off and sit in the trees.
Bigfoots are larger birds, looking a bit like turkeys. They got their name because of the large and strong legs with powerful claws.
There are several species of bigfoots: artisanal turkey, ocular chicken, maleo, jungle chicken, etc.
Features of quail
This species is the smallest migratory bird of the chicken order. Its weight can reach only 150 g. It can be recognized by its spotted brown back. The quail neck and chest are red, and the female is also mottled.
This species of birds is found in Africa, Asia, Europe. It can live in mountainous and lowland conditions. Spends wintering in southern countries. Quail offspring hatch for 17 days. They feed on kidneys, seeds, and insects. To get food, the quail eagerly and regularly digs into the ground. Due to the detrimental effect of man on nature, the number of quail has sharply decreased. Now it is rarely possible to hunt these birds.
Home quail can talk, emitting a kind of singing. Quail eggs are famous for their special properties. For this purpose, birds are bred in cages by large populations. The noise in the room with the cells is extremely strong - with their cry of quail they expose the space almost all the time, except at night, when they sleep.
conclusions
We have finished considering species in the article, which can be generically called chicken-like. More specifically, we stopped at those, which include poultry from the chicken order. The conclusions about him as a whole are as follows: these are mainly individuals of medium size, with powerful legs, flying only over short distances. The exception is only noisy and prolific quail.
Chickens can be found all over the Earth, except for Antarctica, of course. They adapt perfectly to various conditions and are fertile. Together, these factors give greater survival to the squad.
Excellent peacocks, modestly feathered weed chickens, pheasants, ordinary chickens are just a small part of the chicken species we met. One can see firsthand how different nature has made them. A man uses chickens not only as poultry, but also as a decoration for a personal plot. Often in zoos you can see how luxurious a bird walks on the lawn. A peacock or pheasant will delight the eye of every visitor.