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Landfowl

Landfowl usually refers to birds that mainly move on the ground, forage and breed on land) A more detailed introduction and classification overview. It should be noted that "landfowl" is not a strict monophyletic group, but an "eco-morphological" collection formed based on ecological and morphological characteristics (such as feeding, running or perching on the ground). Modern bird phylogenetic studies show that these ground-dwelling birds are scattered in multiple different orders and have no single common ancestor. Landfowl is one of the six major ecological groups of birds. Landfowl refers to birds in the Galliformes and Columbidae in the class Aves. There are 52 species of birds in these two orders in Yunnan. These birds mainly live on land, so they are called landfowl. Grouse, pheasants, peacocks, etc. all belong to this category. Most landfowl are resident birds, and a small number are migratory birds.

I. Introduction to Terrestrial Birds

1. Definition and Key Traits

  • Primarily Ground-Dwelling: Most terrestrial birds spend significant time foraging, nesting, or resting on the ground. Some (like ostriches and emus) have entirely lost the ability to fly, while others (e.g., many galliform birds) can fly short distances but generally stay on land.

  • Body and Limb Adaptations: They often have strong leg musculature for running, scratching, or digging in the soil. Certain groups specialize in endurance running (e.g., ostriches), while others rely on short, explosive flights for escape (e.g., pheasants).

  • Ecological Diversity: They inhabit a range of environments—tropical savannas, temperate deserts, montane scrublands, and agricultural grasslands. Their diets can be herbivorous, omnivorous, or carnivorous (e.g., eating seeds, insects, small invertebrates).

  • Close Relationship with Humans: Many terrestrial birds have been domesticated (chicken, turkey, guineafowl) or hunted (pheasants, quail). They hold substantial economic and cultural significance.

2. Diversity and Ecological Roles

  • Terrestrial birds span flightless “ratites” (e.g., ostriches, rheas, emus) to ground-adapted fowl that can still fly short distances (e.g., galliform birds like chickens and pheasants).

  • In wild ecosystems, they act as seed dispersers, vegetation controllers, or key links in the food web. In human societies, they provide meat, eggs, and cultural value (e.g., game birds, ornamental species).

II. Evolutionary History

  1. Origins and Radiation

    • Birds emerged from theropod dinosaurs in the Mesozoic era and diversified extensively by the end of the Cretaceous. Some lineages adopted primarily ground-based lifestyles, developing running, scratching, or ground-nesting traits.

    • During the Paleogene and Neogene, geographic isolation and varied habitats spurred further specialization, such as flightless ratites in the Southern Hemisphere and galliforms in the Northern Hemisphere.

  2. Single or Multiple Losses of Flight

    • Large, flightless birds (e.g., ostriches, emus, cassowaries, rheas) exemplify parallel evolution, having independently reduced or lost their flying abilities.

    • Although scattered in different orders/families, they share similar adaptations for terrestrial living (large bodies, powerful legs).

  3. Co-Evolution with Humans

    • Humans have domesticated chickens, turkeys, guineafowl for centuries and hunted many species of pheasants and quail.

    • Several terrestrial birds have significant economic value in agriculture and ecotourism, but habitat loss and hunting threaten some wild populations.

III. Major “Terrestrial Bird” Groups and Classification Table

Below is a list of notable ground-dwelling bird orders and families according to modern avian taxonomy. As “terrestrial birds” are not a monophyletic clade, these orders differ widely in phylogeny but share a ground-based ecological lifestyle.

(A) Ratites and Allies (Flightless “Running Birds”)

1. Ostriches, Rheas, Emus, Cassowaries, Tinamous

These birds typically have lost the ability to fly, are large-bodied, and mostly found in the Southern Hemisphere and Africa, sometimes collectively called “ratites.”

OrderFamilyRepresentative GenusExample SpeciesDistribution & Notes
Struthioniformes (Ostriches)Struthionidae (Ostrich)Struthio (ostrich)Common Ostrich (Struthio camelus)Largest living bird, native to African savannas/deserts; cannot fly, runs at high speed.
Rheiformes (Rheas)Rheidae (Rheas)Rhea (rhea)Greater Rhea (Rhea americana)Found in South American grasslands; flightless, smaller than ostriches.
Casuariiformes (Emus, Cassowaries)Dromaiidae (Emu), Casuariidae (Cassowary)Dromaius (emu), Casuarius (cassowary)Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae), Southern Cassowary (Casuarius casuarius)Endemic to Australia/New Guinea; large, flightless, known for speed (emus) or powerful kicks (cassowaries).
Tinamiformes (Tinamous)* or included within PaleognathaeTinamidae (Tinamous)Tinamus, CrypturellusGreat Tinamou (Tinamus major), etc.Central & South America; can fly short distances but mostly ground-based. Considered “primitive” among ground birds.

Note: Some classifications treat Tinamous as a separate order (Tinamiformes), while others group them with ratites under Paleognathae, depending on molecular studies.

(B) Galliformes (“Gamefowl”)

Galliform birds are quintessential “land birds”: usually of medium size, with short, rounded wings for bursts of flight but spending most time on the ground.

FamilyRepresentative GeneraExample SpeciesDistribution & Notes
Phasianidae (Pheasants, Chickens, Partridges, Quail, etc.)Gallus (Junglefowl), Phasianus (True pheasants), Coturnix (Old World quail), etc.Domestic Chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus), Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix), etc.Very diverse, found across Eurasia, Africa, parts of the Americas. Many species are domesticated or important game birds.
Numididae (Guineafowl)Numida (Helmeted Guineafowl), etc.Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris)Native to Africa, known for “pearl-like” spots on feathers, also domesticated in some regions.
Meleagrididae (Turkeys)Meleagris (turkeys)Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)Native to North America. Large ground birds, source of domestic turkey; males exhibit colorful wattles and tail fans.
Tetraonidae (Grouse, Ptarmigan)* sometimes included in PhasianidaeTetrao (Capercaillies), Lagopus (Ptarmigan)Western Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus), Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus), etc.Typically in cooler Northern Hemisphere regions or high mountains. Feathers can change seasonally for camouflage.
Odontophoridae (New World Quail)Colinus (Bobwhites), Odontophorus (Wood Quail), etc.Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus), etc.Found in the Americas, resembling Old World quail in body form and ground-based habits.

Note: Family boundaries within Galliformes vary; some sources merge grouse into Phasianidae.

(C) Other Common Ground-Dwelling Birds

Beyond the “ratites” and “gamefowl,” several other orders have predominantly ground-based families or genera. A few key examples:

  1. Otidiformes (Bustards)

    • Otididae (Bustards): e.g., Great Bustard (Otis tarda), African bustards; large, flight-capable but strongly ground-oriented birds in Eurasian and African grasslands.

  2. Gruiformes (Cranes, Rails, and Allies)

    • Rallidae (Rails, Coots): e.g., Common Coot, various rails. Primarily live in wetlands or marshy ground.

    • Gruidae (Cranes): Though cranes migrate via flight, they feed and nest on the ground in marshes or grasslands.

  3. Columbiformes (Pigeons, Doves)

    • Many species are strong fliers, but certain doves and ground-doves spend much time pecking seeds on the ground.

  4. Passeriformes (Perching Birds) partial ground-dwellers

    • Families such as Alaudidae (Larks) and some Motacillidae (Wagtails, Pipits) forage extensively on open ground, though they remain capable of sustained flight.

IV. Summary

  1. Multiple Origins and Convergent Adaptations

    • “Terrestrial birds” do not form a single evolutionary lineage; rather, multiple avian orders independently evolved ground-based lifestyles—strong legs, ground nesting, and foraging.

    • From large flightless ratites to ground-frequenting galliforms and bustards, they illustrate repeated occupation of terrestrial niches.

  2. Ecological and Human Importance

    • Many ground birds serve crucial functions in grassland or desert ecosystems, dispersing seeds, controlling insect populations, etc.

    • Humans have domesticated chickens, turkeys, guineafowl, and more. Hunting and wildlife tourism also focus on species like pheasants and bustards.

  3. Conservation Concerns

    • Habitat loss, agriculture expansion, and overhunting threaten many terrestrial bird populations (e.g., ostriches, cassowaries, great bustards).

    • Species with limited ranges or migratory needs require international collaboration and protected areas for survival.

Through the above classification and introduction, your website users can have a preliminary understanding of the diverse distribution and evolution of the ecological-morphological group "land birds" in the modern bird system. If you need to further understand the morphological characteristics, ecological habits and conservation status of each species, it is recommended to refer to professional ornithology, regional field manuals and the latest molecular systematics research.

Waterfowl Wading birds Climbing birds Landfowl Bird of prey Songbird
Apteryx haastii

Apteryx haastii

Apteryx haastii，Great Sportted Kiwi

Landfowl LC

Features：National bird of New Zealand

Apteryx haastii, Great Sportted Kiwi, no subspecies.A pair of large spotted kiwis may carve out up to 100 shelters in their territory, often changing shelter every day. They do not leave their burrows during the day, except in dangerous situations. They usually come out at night. Foraging takes plac...

Apteryx owenii

Apteryx owenii

Apteryx owenii，Little Spotted Kiwi

Landfowl LC

Features：National bird of New Zealand

Apteryx owenii, Little Spotted Kiwi, no subspecies.A pair of small spotted kiwis may dig up to 100 burrows in their territory and use them as shelters, often changing homes daily. They do not leave their burrows during the day, except in dangerous situations. They usually come out at night. Foraging...

Apteryx australis

Apteryx australis

Apteryx australis，Brown Kiwi，Southern Brown Kiwi

Landfowl LC

Features：It is an endemic species of New Zealand and the national bird and symbol of New Zealand

Brown Kiwi Apteryx australis, foreign languages Brown Kiwi, Southern Brown Kiwi, there are 3 subspecies (1. Brown kiwi: Apteryx australis australis. 2. Brown Kiwi subspecies: Apteryx australis awryi. 3. North Island subspecies of Brown Kiwi: Apteryx australis mantelli.) .A pair of brown kiwis may di...

Pezophaps solitaria

Pezophaps solitaria

Pezophaps solitaria

Landfowl LC

Features：

The Rodrigues dodo is a bird that looks like a dodo, can't fly like a dodo, it's a kind of dodo. The dodo was hunted to extinction between 1662 and 1690, and the Reunion dodo was hunted to extinction, leaving only the Rodriguez dodo among the dodo species. Around 1730, it became one of the animals...

microgoura meeki

microgoura meeki

microgoura meeki，rothschild

Landfowl LC

Features：

Solomon's crown dove is known as microgoura meeki and rothschild. In the central Pacific Ocean, near the equator, there are hundreds of small islands made up of the country - Solomon Islands, one of which is called the province of Choiseul, their provincial flag painted in the middle of a pigeon...

Columba jouyi

Columba jouyi

Columba jouyi

Landfowl LC

Features：It became extinct in 1936

Columba jouyi is an extinct pigeon species from the Japanese islands of Okinawa, where they were last seen in 1904, but disappeared from the eastern island of Western Europe after 1936, although it is believed that they may still exist on the outlying islands, but it is not certain. In theory, there...

Ptilinopus mercierii

Ptilinopus mercierii

Ptilinopus mercierii，Red-moustached Fruit-dove，Moustached Fruit Dove

Landfowl LC

Features：

The scientific name Ptilinopus mercierii, foreign name Red-moustached Fruit-dove, Moustached Fruit Dove, the specific habit is unknown.Listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) ver 3.1:2010 Red List of Birds - Extinct (EX).Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Mainta...

Alectroenas rodericana

Alectroenas rodericana

Alectroenas rodericana

Landfowl LC

Features：

The Alectroenas rodericana (Alectroenas rodericana) is an extinct pigeon on Rodrigues Island in the Mascarene Islands. All that is known about them is a few sternum and other bone subfossils, and a few descriptions. They are believed to be gentle birds and like to eat melon seeds. In 1693, they were...

Gallicolumba salamonis

Gallicolumba salamonis

Gallicolumba salamonis

Landfowl LC

Features：

Thick-billed chicken dove, scientific name: Gallicolumba salamonis E. P. Ramsay (1882), an extinct pigeon of the genus Galleria, family Dovetail. Little is known about the thick-billed pigeon, with only two specimens collected in 1882 and 1927. The prototype is now housed at the Australian Mus...

Passenger pigeon

Passenger pigeon

North American passenger pigeon, Wandering pigeon, passenger pigeon, travelling pigeon

Landfowl LC

Features：It is two to three times the size of the mourning dove and resembles a turtle dove.

Passenger Pigeon (scientific name: Ectopistes migratorius) Passenger Pigeon, no subspecies, as the name suggests, is a particular kind of pigeon that likes to travel.Passenger pigeons are social birds that live in large groups in forests, gathering in large groups covering hundreds of square kilomet...

Raphus cucullatus，Dodo

Raphus cucullatus，Dodo

Raphus cucullatus，Dodo

Landfowl LC

Features：It was the first recorded extinction of a species

The Dodo (Raphus cucullatus) is one of the most famous extinct animals besides dinosaurs. It is also the only extinct bird of Mauritius to be designated as the national bird.Sailors who landed on Mauritius found much pleasure in watching the clumsy dodo's behaviour. One story tells of a dodo who...

Goura scheepmakeri

Goura scheepmakeri

Goura scheepmakeri，Southern crowned-pigeon

Landfowl LC

Features：It has a dark maroon chest

The yellow-breasted Crested pigeon (Goura scheepmakeri) is known as Southern crowned Pigeon and has two subspecies.The purple breasted Crested dove was first described by Otto Finsch, whose living specimen was obtained from C. Scheepmaker at the Amsterdam Zoo and named after him.The purple breasted...

Goura cristata

Goura cristata

Goura cristata，Blue Crowned Pigeon

Landfowl LC

Features：It is the most beautiful member of the pigeon family and the largest of the pigeons, almost as big as a Turkey

The Blue Crowned Pigeon (Goura cristata) has three subspecies.The blue crested dove is a resident bird. A bird's nest is built in a tree. They usually live and forage in small groups of 2-10, searching for fallen fruits and seeds, as well as eating any insects they encounter. Like a pheasant. Th...

Otidiphaps nobilis

Otidiphaps nobilis

Otidiphaps nobilis，Pheasant Pigeon

Landfowl LC

Features：A strong, walking bird

The Pheasant Pigeon is known as Otidiphaps nobilis and Pheasant pigeon.Listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) ver 3.1: Red List of Birds 2010.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Didunculus strigirostris

Didunculus strigirostris

Didunculus strigirostris，Tooth-billed Pigeon

Landfowl LC

Features：The mandible is named for having two "teeth"

Didunculus strigirostris Tooth-billed Pigeon, no subspecies.Doves live at altitudes ranging from 300 to 1400 meters above sea level and are sexually shy and difficult to approach. The singing sound is similar to that of ordinary domestic pigeons, often making a "gu-gu-gu" sound. It is...

Ptilinopus huttoni

Ptilinopus huttoni

Ptilinopus huttoni，Rapa Fruit Dove

Landfowl LC

Features：

The species is known as Ptilinopus huttoni and Rapa Fruit Dove.Listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) ver 3.1:2010 Red List of Birds - Vulnerable (VU).Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Ptilinopus porphyrea

Ptilinopus porphyrea

Ptilinopus porphyrea，Pink-necked Fruit Dove

Landfowl LC

Features：

Ptilinopus porphyrea, also known as Pink-necked Fruit Dove, is unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Ptilinopus viridis

Ptilinopus viridis

Ptilinopus viridis

Landfowl LC

Features：

The scientific name Ptilinopus viridis is unknown.Listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) ver 3.1:2009 Bird Red List.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Ptilinopus coronulatus

Ptilinopus coronulatus

Ptilinopus coronulatus，Coroneted Fruit-dove，Coroneted Fruit Dove

Landfowl LC

Features：

Its scientific name is Ptilinopus coronulatus, and its foreign names are Coroneted fruit-dove and Coroneted Fruit Dove.Listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) ver 3.1: Red List of Birds 2010.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is ev...

Ptilinopus chalcurus

Ptilinopus chalcurus

Ptilinopus chalcurus，Makatea Fruit-dove，Makatea Fruit Dove

Landfowl LC

Features：

Makatea's scientific name is Ptilinopus chalcurus, foreign names Makatea fruit-dove, Makatea Fruit Dove, the specific habit is unknown.Listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) ver 3.1:2010 Red List of Birds - Vulnerable (VU).Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat...

Ptilinopus roseicapillus

Ptilinopus roseicapillus

Ptilinopus roseicapillus，Mariana Fruit-dove

Landfowl LC

Features：

Its scientific name is Ptilinopus roseicapillus, and its foreign name is Mariana Fruit-dove.Listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) ver 3.1:2010 Red List of Birds - Endangered (EN).Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone'...

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