A206 Gamebirds & Fowl - The Galliformes
This is an order / clade of heavy-bodied, ground-feeding birds. It includes
turkey, grouse, chicken, quail, ptarmigan, partridge, and pheasant. There
are around 290 species. All are skilled runners that can fly only a few
hundred feet when escaping danger. Because of this limitation, they do not
migrate. Males often have elaborate courtship behaviors that include strutting,
fluffing of tail or head feathers, and vocal sounds.
Many species are raised as gamebirds by humans for their meat and
eggs. Others are the target of recreational hunting. This has led to their
common names of gamefowl and gamebirds. They are also called land
fowl to distinguish them from ducks, geese, and other waterfowl.
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