Chickens may be the most common birds on the planet, but beyond the 26 billion that provide eggs and meat, the chicken family thrives on every continent but Antarctica. The Galliformes are feisty, flashy, and fiercely adaptable - from the Satyr Tragopan in Nepal that live in the forest of the Himalayas to the Ptarmigan of Alaska that change their colour with the season.
While females blend into the background to hide from predators while nesting, Galliform males flaunt bold colours, wattles, and combs to attract mates. Some males, such as the peacock, use ornate feathers to impress potential partners, while others, like the Gambol’s Quail of Arizona, mate for life.
Life at the bottom of the food chain can be hard, but the Galliformes are highly intelligent and social creatures, capable of showing empathy and forming alliances.
