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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.

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Syrmaticus reevesii

Syrmaticus reevesii

Zhai bird, ground chicken, long-tailed chicken, mountain pheasant,Syrmaticus reevesii,Reeves's Pheasant

Features:Bird with the longest tail feathers

The white-crowned long-tailed pheasant is also known as Reeves's Pheasant. It has no subspecies and is a beneficial bird in the forest.The white-crowned long-tailed pheasant mainly feeds on plant fruits, seeds, young shoots, tender leaves, flowers, tubers, roots, and seedlings and grains of crop...

Syrmaticus mikado

Syrmaticus mikado

Imperial Pheasant,Syrmaticus mikado,Mikado Pheasant

Features:The guardian of love, the bird that lives at the highest altitude among all pheasants in Taiwan, China

The black long-tailed pheasant is called Mikado Pheasant in English. It has no subspecies and is a large chicken.The black-tailed pheasant is active in places where the surface plants and fallen leaves on the forest road are covered, and it also walks on steep cliffs. It is mostly active alone and d...

Syrmaticus humiae

Syrmaticus humiae

Ground Chicken,Syrmaticus humiae,Mrs. Hume’s Pheasant

Features:Because they rarely chirp, they are also called dumb chickens.

Mrs. Hume’s Pheasant, also known as Mrs. Hume’s Pheasant, has two subspecies.Mrs. Hume’s Pheasant is a resident bird. It often wanders in pairs or small groups to forage. Usually they come down from the trees after daybreak and stay active until dusk. They rest in the open space or bushes in the...

Syrmaticus ellioti

Syrmaticus ellioti

Striped back chicken,Syrmaticus ellioti,Elliot's Pheasant,Chinese Barred-backed Pheasant

Features:It is a typical species of the eastern hilly plain subregion of the Central China region of the Oriental Realm.

Elliot's Pheasant, also known as the White-necked Pheasant, has no subspecies and is a large chicken.Elliot's Pheasant is a resident bird. It likes to gather in groups, often in small groups of 3-8. They often move in and out of rugged mountains and valleys with dense forests and complex ter...

Crossoptilon auritum

Crossoptilon auritum

Crossoptilon auritum,grouse

Features:It is a rare and precious bird, the regional bird of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

Blue Eared-pheasant, no subspecies.Blue pheasants like to live in groups of 10-30. They usually start to move at dawn and go to the middle of the woods to forage for food, mainly plant-based food. They eat and call one after another. When calling, they hold their heads high and stretch their necks,...

Crossoptilon mantchuricum

Crossoptilon mantchuricum

Crossoptilon mantchuricum,Horned chicken, pheasant, Yi bird

Features:It is the most precious species of pheasant, known as "鹖" in ancient times.

Brown Eared-pheasant, with no subspecies, is a bird that inhabits mountain forests.Brown Eared-pheasant is the most precious species of pheasant, and was called "鹖" in ancient times. "鹖" is recorded in "Qin Jing" as "鹖", a strong bird. "Yi does not kno...

Crossoptilon harmani

Crossoptilon harmani

Crossoptilon harmani, Hamman Pheasant

Features:The plumage color of Tibetan pheasant is between that of white pheasant and blue pheasant.

Tibetan Eared-pheasant, no subspecies.There are two kinds of pheasants in Tibet, China: one is covered with snow-white feathers, with a ball of black fluffy feathers on the top of the head, and the tip of the tail gradually turns from white to gray, and then becomes a thick copper color, with a dark...

Crossoptilon crossoptilon

Crossoptilon crossoptilon

Crossoptilon crossoptilon,White Eared-pheasant,Snow Pheasant

Features:It is larger than the ring-necked pheasant and the largest of the three species of pheasants.

White Eared-pheasant is divided into four subspecies. The Changdu subspecies is the real white eared pheasant. Except for the black top of the head and the green-blue end of the tail feathers, the feathers of the whole body are almost all snow-white. The Yushu subspecies has gray feathers of varying...

Crossoptilon crossoptilon

Crossoptilon crossoptilon

Crossoptilon crossoptilon,Blue-bellied Pheasant, Chinese Chicken, Taiwan Blue-bellied Pheasant,Lophura swinhoii,Taiwan Blue Pheasant,Swinhoe's Pheasant

Features:

Taiwan Blue Pheasant, with no subspecies, is a large pheasant.The blue pheasant is the same as the white pheasant. The local people in Taiwan, China often use the white tail feathers of the male blue pheasant as a hat ornament; live blue pheasants can also be exhibited (the first pair of live blue p...

Lophura nycthemera

Lophura nycthemera

Silver pheasant, silver pheasant, Vietnamese bird, Vietnamese bird, white pheasant,Lophura nycthemera,silver pheasant

Features:The representative mascot of the Hani ethnic group in China is also the pattern of the fifth-rank official uniform of the Qing Dynasty.

Silver pheasant, also known as silver pheasant, has 17 subspecies and is a large chicken of the genus Pheasant of the family Phasianidae.Silver pheasant has gorgeous feathers and white body color. Because of its hoarse cry, it is called "dumb luck"; it has been a precious ornamental bird i...

Lophura leucomelanos

Lophura leucomelanos

Pheasant, black chicken,Lophura leucomelanos,Kalij Pheasant

Features:In fact, she is not black at all

The black pheasant is called Kalij Pheasant in foreign language, and it is divided into 9 subspecies. There are 2 subspecies in China. The nominate subspecies is distributed in Nyalam, Jilong, Yadong and other places in southern Tibet; the southern Tibetan subspecies is distributed in Medog, Zayu, B...

Gallus gallus

Gallus gallus

Gallus gallus,Red Junglefowl,Camellia Chicken

Features:The wild ancestor of the domestic chicken

Red Junglefowl, also known as "junglefowl", has 5 subspecies and is a tropical forest bird.Except during the breeding season, red junglefowl often live in groups, mostly in small groups of 3-5 or 6-7, and sometimes in large groups of 10-20. They are alert and timid. When they see people or...

Lophophorus lhuysii

Lophophorus lhuysii

Fritillaria chicken, hawk chicken, charcoal chicken, lamb chicken,Lophophorus lhuysii,Chinese Monal,Chinese Impeyan

Features:Endemic to China, the city bird of Xichang, one of the most difficult birds to keep in the world

The Chinese Monal is a diurnal animal, often moving in pairs or small groups, and sometimes in larger groups of 8-9 to more than 10 in winter.The Chinese Monal is a diurnal animal, often moving in pairs or small groups, and sometimes in larger groups of 8-9 to more than 10 in winter. Active during t...

Lophophorus sclateri

Lophophorus sclateri

Alpine Snow Goose,Lophophorus sclateri,Sclater's Monal,Crestless Monal

Features:The individuals are large, clumsy, and have a strong regularity in daily activities.

The white-tailed pheasant is called Sclater's Monal in English. It has three subspecies and is a large chicken.White-tailed pheasants mostly move alone. In the winter in Gaoligong Mountain, Yunnan, a group of 9 was seen living together. The time period and altitude of male bird activities have c...

Lophophorus impejanus

Lophophorus impejanus

Nine-color bird,Lophophorus impejanus

Features:The image is very beautiful, especially the colorful male bird

The foreign name of the brown-tailed rainbow pheasant is Himalayan Monal, and there is no subspecies.The brown-tailed rainbow pheasant often moves in groups, and sometimes forms a large group of 20-30 in winter. The natural conditions there are very harsh. The whole summer is almost always spent in...

Pucrasia macrolopha

Pucrasia macrolopha

Willow leaf chicken, tricky chicken,Pucrasia macrolopha,Koklass Pheasant

Features:The willow-shaped feathers are like blood, the long crest feathers on the top of the head are erected, and the back of the neck is covered with golden feathers.

The Koklass Pheasant has 10 subspecies.Male and female spoonbills move alone or in pairs. They are alert and rarely form groups. They also spend the night in pairs on tree branches. The male likes to call in the early morning and evening. Its hoarse voice is like that of a drake, so it is called &qu...

Tragopan caboti

Tragopan caboti

Horned chicken, turkey, longevity chicken,Tragopan caboti,Cabot's Tragopan,Yellow-billed Tragopan

Features:A bird native to China, considered the "giant panda among birds"

The foreign name of the yellow-bellied tragopan is Cabot's Tragopan, and there are 2 subspecies.The yellow-bellied tragopan is good at hiding and running. It often moves in dense undergrowth and grass under the forest. It generally does not take off unless it has to. They often move in small gro...

Tragopan temminckii

Tragopan temminckii

Shou chicken, red chicken, baby chicken,Tragopan temminckii,Temminck's tragopan

Features:The difference from the red-breasted tragopan is that the grayish-white spots on the lower body are larger and do not have a black outer edge.

The foreign name of the red-bellied tragopan is Temminck's tragopan, and there is no subspecies.The red-bellied tragopan likes to act alone, but occasionally forms small groups in winter. It mainly feeds on the tender shoots, leaves, green leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds of trees, shrubs, bamb...

Tragopan blythii

Tragopan blythii

Longevity chicken, gray-spotted pheasant,Tragopan blythii,Blyth's Tragopan,Grey-bellied Tragopan

Features:The most endangered species in the genus Tragopan

The Blyth's Tragopan is called Blyth's Tragopan in English, and has two subspecies.The Blyth's Tragopan is alert by nature, good at running, and generally rarely flies. When frightened, they often run fast or hide in dense forests and bushes, and only fly away when they have to. But the...

Tragopan satyra

Tragopan satyra

Chaffinch,Tragopan satyra,Satyr Tragopan,Crimson Horned-pheasant,Indian Tragopan

Features:A gorgeous crimson tragopan native to the Himalayas.

The foreign name of the red-breasted tragopan is Satyr Tragopan, and there is no subspecies.The red-breasted tragopan mainly forages in the early morning and dusk, and likes to hide. Most of the time, it hides in the deep mountains and dense forests where few people go. It is cautious in its movemen...

Tragopan melanocephalus

Tragopan melanocephalus

Western Tragopan,Tragopan melanocephalus,Western Tragopan,Black-headed Tragopan,Western Horned-pheasant

Features:The call is like a sheep, and the male bird's courtship display is complex (often ignored)

The foreign name of the black-headed tragopan is Western Tragopan, and there is no subspecies.The black-headed tragopan likes to move alone and forms small groups in winter. It has weak flying and dispersal abilities, and relatively poor ability to avoid natural enemies. It lives in dense forests, a...