Red junglefowl: facts, danger and how to survive it
The wild ancestor of the farmyard chicken. It scratches through the leaf litter in small groups and bursts into a short, noisy flight when startled.
About the real animal
The red junglefowl is the wild ancestor of the domestic chicken, and it still lives in forests across South and Southeast Asia. The male has a red comb, glossy gold and copper neck feathers and a long arched black tail. The female is a plain brown, which hides her on the nest. Junglefowl scratch through the leaf litter in small groups for seeds, insects and fallen fruit, and when they are startled they burst into a short, noisy flight to the nearest tree.
In the game
Junglefowl scratch about in small groups at the forest edge and in mixed woodland. They are alert, and they fly up with a clatter when you come close, so move slowly and crouch. They give a little more meat than a rabbit. Predators such as foxes, wolves and cougars hunt them.
Quick facts
| Found in | mixed woodland, pine forest, meadows |
|---|---|
| Active | by day |
| Eats | plants |
| Temper | timid: it runs when it senses you |
| Strength | 6 health |
| Speed | walks at 1 m/s, runs at 5.5 m/s (you walk at 4 m/s and sprint at 7.5 m/s) |
| Yields | 1 to 2 meat |
What to do
Small but tasty. Creep close while it feeds.
More from this group
- 🐇RabbitA small grazer that lives in groups and hides in the grass.
- 🐿️SquirrelLives in the trees and chatters at anything it sees.
- 🐦Forest birdsFlocks of small birds.
Back to all animals, or read the survival guide.