Phasianidae: Partridges, Pheasants, Grouse, and Turkeys
The partridges, pheasants, grouse, and turkeys are a large and exceptionally diverse family highly prized as a source of food, ornaments, cultural motifs, and recreational quarry. As the most widely hunted and eaten of all bird families, the Phasianidae are often known simply as “gamebirds”—which is a succinct but demeaning label that also fits several other families. One member, the chicken, is so ubiquitous in cuisine (meat and eggs) that it supports an agricultural sector (i.e., poultry) that accounts for an enormous slice of global economic activity. Among biologists, however, it is not regarded as a “species” per se, but instead as a cultivated variant of its wild ancestor, the Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus).
The Phasianidae’s diversity peaks in Asia, where its representatives range in size from the tiny, ironically named King Quail (Excalfactoria chinensis) up to the global champion of tail-feathers, the spectacular Green Peafowl (Pavo muticus), include an ornate gallery of monals, tragopans, pheasants, and peacock-pheasants, and occupy nearly every terrestrial habitat from tropical forests to high alpine scree and arctic tundra. Africa also has a large complement of species, most of which fit into the comparatively uniform category of partridges (or francolins).
The other continental landmasses have far fewer phasianids. Despite being contiguous with Asia, Europe is home to just a handful of indigenous partridges and grouse. Australia’s total count is in the low single digits. In the New World, native phasianids are confined to North America and consist of about a dozen species of grouse and two turkeys.
Because of their popularity among hunters, many phasianids have been introduced and become well established far from their natural ranges. The Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) is the most widespread and successful example, but the list of others that have succeeded on a smaller scale is long and incompletely recorded.
Taxonomy
Family relationships among the eight major branches of chickenlike birds (collectively, the Galliformes) are imperfectly understood and remain open to revision. The consensus since the early 2000s has been to classify four of the branches as separate families based on evidence that they diverged in the very distant past, and to combine the remaining four as subfamilies within a single family. This combined family is the Phasianidae, comprised of these subfamilies:
Meleagrinae: Turkeys (2 species)
Tetraoninae: Grouse (19 to 22 species)
Perdicinae: Partridges and quails (110 to 127 species plus 2 extinct)
Phasianinae: Pheasants (51 to 53 species)
As currently configured, therefore, the Phasianidae comprise approximately 182 to 204 extant species, plus two that have gone extinct in modern times.
While partridges and pheasants have always been classified together, both grouse and turkeys have sometimes been classified as separate families. Adding to the potential confusion, two of the other galliform families, the guineafowls (Numididae) and New World quails (Odontophoridae) have sometimes been included in the Phasianidae. So, depending on the taxonomic paradigm of the day, the name Phasianidae has referred to anywhere from two to six subfamily- or family-level groups, or varying sets of three, four, or five. Of course, this could all change again, so specification of the subfamilies under consideration is a helpful precaution against error.
The species-level taxonomy of the Phasianidae is fairly well settled for most of the major subgroups, although several of the recognized species are internally diverse and include distinctive populations. The Common Pheasant is among the most striking examples of visible diversity within a single, recognized species. In contrast, despite extensive research and analysis, the complex mass of populations that comprise the Kalij Pheasant (Lophura leucomelanos) and Silver Pheasant (L. nycthemera) remain among the more problematic cases for delineating a boundary between two (or possibly more) species. Other species limits that remain open to debate, but are not as fully investigated, include a few of the grouse and many of the African francolins.
Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)
Ocellated Turkey (Meleagris ocellata)
Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus)
Hazel Grouse (Tetrastes bonasia)
Chinese Grouse (Tetrastes sewerzowi)
Siberian Grouse (Falcipennis falcipennis)
Spruce Grouse (Falcipennis canadensis)
“Spruce Grouse” (F. c. canadensis)
“Franklin’s Grouse” (F. c. franklinii)
Western Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus)
Black-billed Capercaillie (Tetrao urogalloides)
Black Grouse (Lyrurus tetrix)
Caucasian Grouse (Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi)
Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus)
Gunnison Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus minimus)
Dusky Grouse (Dendragapus obscurus)
Sooty Grouse (Dendragapus fuliginosus)
Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus)
Lesser Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus)
Greater Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus cupido)
“Greater Prairie-Chicken” (T. c. pinnatus)
“Heath Hen” (T. c. cupido) †
“Attwater’s Prairie-Chicken” (T. c. attwateri)
White-tailed Ptarmigan (Lagopus leucura)
Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta)
Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus)
“Willow Ptarmigan” (L. l. lagopus)
“Red Grouse” (L. l. scotica)
Snow Partridge (Lerwa lerwa)
Verreaux’s Monal-Partridge (Tetraophasis obscurus)
Szechenyi’s Monal-Partridge (Tetraophasis szechenyii)
Caucasian Snowcock (Tetraogallus caucasicus)
Caspian Snowcock (Tetraogallus caspius)
Himalayan Snowcock (Tetraogallus himalayensis)
Tibetan Snowcock (Tetraogallus tibetanus)
Altai Snowcock (Tetraogallus altaicus)
Rock Partridge (Alectoris graeca)
“Rock Partridge” (A. g. graeca)
“Sicilian Partridge” (A. g. whitakeri)
Przevalski’s Partridge (Alectoris magna)
Philby’s Partridge (Alectoris philbyi)
Barbary Partridge (Alectoris barbara)
Red-legged Partridge (Alectoris rufa)
Arabian Partridge (Alectoris melanocephala)
See-see Partridge (Ammoperdix griseogularis)
Sand Partridge (Ammoperdix heyi)
Black Francolin (Francolinus francolinus)
Painted Francolin (Francolinus pictus)
Chinese Francolin (Francolinus pintadeanus)
Gray Francolin (Francolinus pondicerianus)
Swamp Francolin (Francolinus gularis)
Latham’s Francolin (Francolinus lathami)
Coqui Francolin (Peliperdix coqui)
“Plain-breasted Francolin” (P. c. hubbardi)
“Bar-breasted Francolin” (P. c. coqui)
White-throated Francolin (Peliperdix albogularis)
“White-throated Francolin” (P. a. albogularis)
“Chestnut-breasted Francolin” (P. a. dewittei)
Schlegel’s Francolin (Peliperdix schlegelii)
Ring-necked Francolin (Scleroptila streptophora)
Gray-winged Francolin (Scleroptila afra)
Red-winged Francolin (Scleroptila levaillantii)
Finsch’s Francolin (Scleroptila finschi)
Shelley’s Francolin (Scleroptila shelleyi)
“Shelley’s Francolin” (S. s. shelleyi)
“Whyte’s Francolin” (S. s. whytei)
Moorland Francolin (Scleroptila psilolaema)
“Moorland Francolin” (S. p. psilolaema)
“Elgon Francolin” (S. p. elgonensis)
Orange River Francolin (Scleroptila gutturalis)
“Archer’s Francolin” (S. g. gutturalis)
“Kalahari Francolin” (S. g. jugularis)
“Orange River Francolin” (S. g. levalliantoides)
Crested Francolin (Dendroperdix sephaena)
“Kirk’s Francolin” (D. s. rovuma)
“Crested Francolin” (D. s. sephaena)
Scaly Francolin (Pternistis squamatus)
Ahanta Francolin (Pternistis ahantensis)
Gray-striped Francolin (Pternistis griseostriatus)
Hildebrandt’s Francolin (Pternistis hildebrandti)
Double-spurred Francolin (Pternistis bicalcaratus)
Hueglin’s Francolin (Pternistis icterorhynchus)
Clapperton’s Francolin (Pternistis clappertoni)
Harwood’s Francolin (Pternistis harwoodi)
Swierstra’s Francolin (Pternistis swierstrai)
Mount Cameroon Francolin (Pternistis camerunensis)
Handsome Francolin (Pternistis nobilis)
Jackson’s Francolin (Pternistis jacksoni)
Chestnut-naped Francolin (Pternistis castaneicollis)
Black-fronted Francolin (Pternistis atrifrons)
Djibouti Francolin (Pternistis ochropectus)
Erckel’s Francolin (Pternistis erckelii)
Hartlaub’s Francolin (Pternistis hartlaubi)
Red-billed Francolin (Pternistis adspersus)
Cape Francolin (Pternistis capensis)
Natal Francolin (Pternistis natalensis)
Yellow-necked Francolin (Pternistis leucoscepus)
Gray-breasted Francolin (Pternistis rufopictus)
Red-necked Francolin (Pternistis afer)
“Cranch’s Red-necked Francolin” (P. a. cranchii)
“Northern Red-necked Francolin” (P. a. leucoparaeus)
“Benguela Red-necked Francolin” (P. a. afer)
“Southern Red-necked Francolin” (P. a. castaneiventer)
Swainson’s Francolin (Pternistis swainsonii)
Gray Partridge (Perdix perdix)
Daurian Partridge (Perdix daurica)
Tibetan Partridge (Perdix hodgsoniae)
Long-billed Partridge (Rhizothera longirostris)
Hose’s Partridge (Rhizothera dulitensis)
Madagascan Partridge (Margaroperdix madagarensis)
Black Partridge (Melanoperdix niger)
Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix)
Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica)
Rain Quail (Coturnix coromandelica)
Harlequin Quail (Coturnix delegorguei)
Stubble Quail (Coturnix pectoralis)
New Zealand Quail (Coturnix novaezelandiae) †
Brown Quail (Synoicus ypsilophorus)
King Quail (Synoicus chinensis)
Blue Quail (Synoicus adansonii)
Snow Mountain Quail (Anurophasis monorthonyx)
Jungle Bush-Quail (Perdicula asiatica)
Rock Bush-Quail (Perdicula argoondah)
Painted Bush-Quail (Perdicula erythrorhyncha)
Manipur Bush-Quail (Perdicula manipurensis)
Himalayan Quail (Ophrysia superciliosa) †
Udzungwa Partridge (Xenoperdix udzungwensis)
Rubeho Partridge (Xenoperdix obscuratus)
Hill Partridge (Arborophila torqueola)
Rufous-throated Partridge (Arborophila rufogularis)
White-cheeked Partridge (Arborophila atrogularis)
Taiwan Partridge (Arborophila crudigularis)
Chestnut-breasted Partridge (Arborophila mandellii)
Bar-backed Partridge (Arborophila brunneopectus)
Sichuan Partridge (Arborophila rufipectus)
White-necklaced Partridge (Arborophila gingica)
Orange-necked Partridge (Arborophila davidi)
Chestnut-headed Partridge (Arborophila cambodiana)
“Siamese Partridge” (A. c. diversa)
“Cambodian Partridge” (A. c. cambodiana)
Malaysian Partridge (Arborophila campbelli)
Roll’s Partridge (Arborophila rolli)
Sumatran Partridge (Arborophila sumatrana)
Gray-breasted Partridge (Arborophila orientalis)
Chestnut-bellied Partridge (Arborophila javanica)
Red-billed Partridge (Arborophila rubrirostris)
Red-breasted Partridge (Arborophila hyperythra)
Hainan Partridge (Arborophila ardens)
Chestnut-necklaced Partridge (Arborophila charltonii)
“Chestnut-necklaced Partridge” (A. c. charltonii)
“Sabah Partidge” (A. c. graydoni)
Scaly-breasted Partridge (Arborophila chloropus)
“Tonkin Partridge” (A. c. tonkinensis)
“Green-legged Partridge” (A. c. chloropus)
Ferruginous Partridge (Caloperdix oculeus)
Crimson-headed Partridge (Haematortyx sanguiniceps)
Crested Partridge (Rollulus rouloul)
Mountain Bamboo Partridge (Bambusicola fytchii)
Chinese Bamboo Partridge (Bambusicola thoracicus)
Taiwan Bamboo Partridge (Bambusicola sonorivox)
Red Spurfowl (Galloperdix spadicea)
Painted Spurfowl (Galloperdix lunulata)
Sri Lanka Spurfowl (Galloperdix bicalcarata)
Blood Pheasant (Ithaginis cruentus)
Western Tragopan (Tragopan melanocephalus)
Satyr Tragopan (Tragopan satyra)
Blyth’s Tragopan (Tragopan blythii)
Temminck’s Tragopan (Tragopan temminckii)
Cabot’s Tragopan (Tragopan caboti)
Koklass Pheasant (Pucrasia macrolopha)
Himalayan Monal (Lophophorus impejanus)
Sclater’s Monal (Lophophorus sclateri)
Chinese Monal (Lophophorus lhuysii)
Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus)
Gray Junglefowl (Gallus sonneratii)
Sri Lanka Junglefowl (Gallus lafayettii)
Green Junglefowl (Gallus varius)
Kalij Pheasant (Lophura leucomelanos)
Silver Pheasant (Lophura nycthemera)
Edwards’s Pheasant (Lophura edwardsi)
Swinhoe’s Pheasant (Lophura swinhoii)
Hoogerwerf’s Pheasant (Lophura hoogerwerfi)
Salvadori’s Pheasant (Lophura inornata)
Crestless Fireback (Lophura erythrophthalma)
“Malay Crestless Fireback” (L. e. erythrophthalma)
“Bornean Crestless Fireback” (L. e. pyronota)
Crested Fireback (Lophura ignita)
“Malay Crested Fireback” (L. i. rufa)
“Bornean Crested Fireback” (L. i. ignita)
Siamese Fireback (Lophura diardi)
Bulwer’s Pheasant (Lophura bulweri)
White Eared-Pheasant (Crossoptilon crossoptilon)
Tibetan Eared-Pheasant (Crossoptilon harmani)
Brown Eared-Pheasant (Crossoptilon mantchuricum)
Blue Eared-Pheasant (Crossoptilon auritum)
Cheer Pheasant (Catreus wallichii)
Elliot’s Pheasant (Syrmaticus ellioti)
Mrs. Hume’s Pheasant (Syrmaticus humiae)
Mikado Pheasant (Syrmaticus mikado)
Copper Pheasant (Syrmaticus soemmerringii)
Reeves’s Pheasant (Syrmaticus reevesii)
Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
Green Pheasant (Phasianus versicolor)
Golden Pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus)
Lady Amherst’s Pheasant (Chrysolophus amherstiae)
Bronze-tailed Peacock-Pheasant (Polyplectron chalcurum)
Mountain Peacock-Pheasant (Polyplectron inopinatum)
Germain’s Peacock-Pheasant (Polyplectron germaini)
Gray Peacock-Pheasant (Polyplectron bicalcaratum)
Hainan Peacock-Pheasant (Polyplectron katsumatae)
Malayan Peacock-Pheasant (Polyplectron malacense)
Bornean Peacock-Pheasant (Polyplectron schleiermacheri)
Palawan Peacock-Pheasant (Polyplectron napoleonis)
Crested Argus (Rheinardia ocellata)
Great Argus (Argusianus argus)
References
Hume, J.P. 2017. Extinct Birds (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing PLC, London.
Madge, S., and P.J.K. McGowan. 2002. Pheasants, Partridges, and Grouse: A Guide to the Pheasants, Partridges, Quails, Grouse, Guineafowl, Buttonquails, and Sandgrouse of the World. Princeton University Press, Princeton, N.J.
Roberson, D. 2008. Bird Families of the World: Turkeys: Meleagridinae, http://creagrus.home.montereybay.com/turkeys.html. (Posted February 17, 2008. Accessed February 28, 2020.)
Roberson, D. 2008. Bird Families of the World: Pheasants & Allies: Phasianidae, http://creagrus.home.montereybay.com/pheasants.html. (Posted February 18, 2008. Accessed February 28, 2020.)
Roberson, D. 2008. Bird Families of the World: Grouse: Tetraoninae, http://creagrus.home.montereybay.com/grouse.html. (Posted February 18, 2008. Accessed February 28, 2020.)