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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
Ithaginis cruentus

Ithaginis cruentus

Songhua chicken, Taibai chicken, blood chicken, bush chicken, green chicken, willow chicken,Ithaginis cruentus,Blood Pheasant

Features:Strong character, born with a stubborn temper

Blood Pheasant is called Blood Pheasant in foreign language, and has 12 subspecies. Also known as Blood Chicken and Songhua Chicken, the male Blood Pheasant has red large coverts, undertail coverts, uppertail coverts, feet, head sides, and wax membrane, so it is called Blood Pheasant. It has many al...

Alectoris magna

Alectoris magna

Alectoris magna,Rusty-necklaced Partridge, Przevalski's Partridge,Gala Chicken

Features:The white patches on the face, chin and throat have a black line on the outer edge, like a partridge, and a characteristic chestnut line

The foreign name of the large stone partridge is Rusty-necklaced Partridge, and there is no subspecies.The large stone partridge does not have extensive migration habits, but vertical migration with seasonal changes is more obvious on the Qinghai Plateau. In spring and summer, as the weather warms u...

Tetraogallus altaicus

Tetraogallus altaicus

Himalayan Snowcock,Tetraogallus altaicus,Altai Snowcock

Features:Known as the "climbing" expert in the pheasant family

Altai Snowcock, also known as Altai Snowcock, has two subspecies.Altai Snowcock often moves in groups except during the breeding season. It likes to run on the ground, and often swings its tail feathers up and down while walking, which is its unique behavior. It runs fast on the ground, especially w...

Tetraogallus tibetanus

Tetraogallus tibetanus

Tibetan snow chicken, pale-bellied snow chicken, snow chicken,Tetraogallus tibetanus,Tibetan Snowcock

Features:A relative of the dark-bellied snowcock

Tibetan Snowcock, also known as Tibetan Snowcock in English, has 6 subspecies and is similar in shape to domestic chickens.Tibetan snow chickens like to gather in groups, mostly in small groups of 3-5. In areas with high density, you can see large groups of 10-20 or even nearly 100. They are active...

Tetraogallus himalayensis

Tetraogallus himalayensis

Alpine snowcock, Himalayan snowcock,Tetraogallus himalayensis,Himalayan Snowcock

Features:Diurnal bird with short, strong legs, good at running and rarely flying

The Himalayan Snowcock is divided into five subspecies. The nominate subspecies has the darkest color of feathers, the southern Xinjiang subspecies has the lightest color, and the Qinghai subspecies has a color between the above two subspecies.Dark-bellied snowcocks like to gather in groups, often f...

Tetraophasis szechenyii

Tetraophasis szechenyii

Yellow-throated pheasant, Sichuan pheasant quail, sheep-horn chicken,Tetraophasis szechenyii,Buff-throated Partridge,Szechenyi's Monal-Partridge

Features:There is a hint of yellow in the throat, and it will keep calling before the rain or snow.

The foreign name of the yellow-throated pheasant quail is Buff-throated Partridge or Szechenyi's Monal-Partridge. It has no subspecies and is a rare resident bird.Yellow-throated pheasant quail roosts on low branches at night. Except for the breeding season when they mostly move in pairs or alon...

Tetraophasis obscurus

Tetraophasis obscurus

Red-throated Pheasant, Xikang Pheasant Quail, Sichuan Pheasant Quail, Muping Pheasant Ptarmigan,Tetraophasis obscurus,Chestnut-throated Partridge,Verreaux's Monal-Partridge

Features:Good at walking and running on the ground, and also good at gliding between valleys, but poor at flying.

Chestnut-throated Partridge, no subspecies.Chestnut-throated Partridge is usually found alone or in pairs, foraging in open areas near the forest line. They are good at walking and running on the ground, and also good at gliding in the valleys, but their flying ability is poor, and they rarely take...

Lagopus lagopus

Lagopus lagopus

Lagopus lagopus,Willow Ptarmigan, Willow Grouse And Red Grouse,Ptarmigan, Willow Chicken, Suir, Snow Chicken

Features:Birds that know how to hide

Willow Ptarmigan, with 17 subspecies, is a medium-sized bird in the grouse family.Willow Ptarmigan likes to move in the woods and sometimes in farmland. Except for the breeding season, they mostly move in groups, and in winter there can be more than a hundred. The range of activities is wide, and th...

Lagopus muta

Lagopus muta

snow cock,Lagopus muta,Rock Ptarmigan,Ptarmigan

Features:The name sounds domineering, but the animal is actually weak

Rock Ptarmigan has 25 subspecies.Rock Ptarmigan is mostly active in groups except during the breeding season, mostly in small groups of 3-5, and sometimes even up to 100 in winter. It mainly moves on the ground, and roosts in snow caves at night in winter. It flies quickly, but not far. It lives in...

Lyrurus tetrix

Lyrurus tetrix

Black pheasant, black chicken,Lyrurus tetrix,Black Grouse

Features:It is named after its shape, which is very similar to the guqin.

The Black Grouse is divided into 7 subspecies according to feather color and body shape. There are 3 subspecies in China, namely Xinjiang subspecies, northern subspecies and northeastern subspecies. There are differences in the body feathers of these 3 subspecies. The difference in the body feathers...

Tetrao parvirostris

Tetrao parvirostris

Grouse, wood chicken,Tetrao parvirostris,Black-billed Capercaillie

Features:The male and female have black beaks, feet and toes, and cinnamon irises, but the plumage is quite different.

The black-billed grouse is called Black-billed Capercaillie in foreign language, and there are 3 subspecies.The activities and foraging of black-billed grouse are all during the day, starting at dawn and not stopping until dusk. They are good at walking on the ground, and generally seldom fly except...

Tetrao urogallus

Tetrao urogallus

Common Grouse, Western Grouse,Tetrao urogallus,Western Capercaillie, Capercaillie

Features:It was first discovered in the mountains of the extreme north of Xinjiang, my country in 1975. It is the largest species of grouse.

The grouse is called Western Capercaillie in foreign language. It has 12 subspecies. It is a large grouse that lives in forest areas. It is the same size as a turkey. Grouse rarely fly except when they go up and down trees. Due to their clumsy bodies, they flap their wings violently when they take o...

Falcipennis falcipennis

Falcipennis falcipennis

Falcipennis falcipennis,Siberian Grouse

Features:The rarest and most endangered species in the grouse family

Siberian Grouse has no subspecies.Siberian Grouse has no obvious migration behavior in autumn and winter, but the altitude of its habitat decreases slightly. They usually move in pairs during the breeding season, and form small groups of 3-10 during the non-breeding season, with a maximum of more th...

Bonasa sewerzowi

Bonasa sewerzowi

Lamb horn chicken,Bonasa sewerzowi,Chinese Grouse

Features:The iris is brown, the beak is dark brown, and the feet are yellow

The foreign name of the spotted-tailed hazel pheasant is Chinese Grouse, which is divided into two subspecies, namely the nominative subspecies (T.s.sewerzowi) and the Sichuan subspecies (T.s.secunda). The difference between the two is that the Sichuan subspecies has a thicker chestnut head and blac...

Bonasia bonasia

Bonasia bonasia

Flying dragon, grouse, tree chicken,Bonasia bonasia,Tetrastes bonasia,Hazel Grouse

Features:Hazel Grouse is a typical forest bird

The Hazel Grouse, also known as the Hazel Grouse in English, has 12 subspecies. It lives in Northeast China. In Manchu, it is called "Feiye Lenggu", which means "chicken on the tree". Later, it was called "Flying Dragon" based on its homonym.Hazel grouse is a forest-dwe...

Tropicoperdix chloropus

Tropicoperdix chloropus

Tropicoperdix chloropus,Green-legged Partridge, Green-legged Hill-partridge, Scaly-breasted Partridge,Arborophila chloropus,Scaly-breasted Partridge, Green-legged Mountain Partridge

Features:The iris is reddish brown, the beak is horny yellow, and the feet are green

The green-footed tree partridge was previously classified as the mountain partridge genus (Arborophila) and was called the green-footed mountain partridge. Based on multi-gene sequence analysis, this species and the chestnut-breasted tree partridge (T. charltonii) should be classified as an independ...

Arborophila ardens

Arborophila ardens

Arborophila ardens,Hainan Partridge, Hainan Hill-partridge, White-eared Hill-partridge, White-eared Partridge,Yamaaka

Features:It is a pheasant species that is unique to China and is only found in Hainan Province.

Hainan Partridge is called Hainan Partridge in foreign language, and has no subspecies.Hainan Partridge often forages in pairs or small groups of 4-5, at the bottom of the ditch, at the foot of the slope, or where fallen leaves are piled up on the hillside. They roost in trees at night. It is alert...

Arborophila crudigularis

Arborophila crudigularis

Arborophila crudigularis,Deep Mountain Bamboo Chicken

Features:It is a rare species unique to Taiwan Island, China

Taiwan Partridge is known as Taiwan Partridge in foreign languages, and has no subspecies.Taiwan Partridge is good at hiding. Except for the breeding season when it moves in pairs, it usually moves in small groups of 2-3. It moves mostly on the forest floor and roosts on branches at night. Every mor...

Arborophila mandellii

Arborophila mandellii

Arborophila mandellii

Features:The upper chest is chestnut, the lower chest to the anus is gray, and the ribs have chestnut and white spots

The Red-breasted Partridge is called Collared Partridge in English. It has no subspecies and is a medium-sized nearly gray partridge. It is an extremely rare resident bird in China.Red-breasted Partridge often lives and moves in small groups, mostly near streams. It is extremely timid, often hiding...

Arborophila brunneopectus

Arborophila brunneopectus

Arborophila brunneopectus

Features:Quiet and hidden

Brown-breasted Hill Partridge has three subspecies.Arborophila brown breast temperament is relatively quiet, also good at hiding, generally difficult to find. The call is a monotonous guttural sound, developed into a high and low whistle ti-hu, ti-hu, ti-hu... Audio volume unchanged. kew, kew, kew.....

Arborophila atrogularis

Arborophila atrogularis

Arborophila atrogularis

Features:The cheek and ear feathers are milky white

White-cheeked Partridge has no subspecies.Partridges often move in groups, consisting of 5-8 or more than 10 individuals. Good at running and walking on the ground, generally rarely take off. It feeds mainly on plant food such as shoots, young leaves, buds, berries and seeds of understory shrubs and...