28 )~ Sri Lanka Junglefowl~

More about 28 )~ Sri Lanka Junglefowl~

**Sri Lanka Junglefowl - Gallus lafayettii

Short: The fiery-plumed national bird of Sri Lanka- wild ancestor of the rooster - dances through dawn light, its jungle call echoing through misty valleys. Yet deforestation and hybridization threaten this ancient forest spirit.

Facts:

Habitat: Dense forests, foothills, and scrub jungles across Sri Lanka’s wet and dry zones.

Diet: Seeds, fruits, insects, and small reptiles.

Behavior: Ground-dwelling and shy; males perform elaborate courtship displays at sunrise.

Threats: Habitat loss, forest fragmentation, and genetic dilution through interbreeding with domestic chickens.

Status: Least Concern globally, but threatened locally by rapid land-use change.


Details:
The Sri Lanka Junglefowl, known locally as “Wali Kukula” (වළි කුකුලා), is more than just a bird - it’s a symbol of Sri Lanka’s wild beauty and independence. Males shimmer with a palette of flaming orange, crimson, sapphire blue, and golden yellow, their iridescent feathers glowing like embers beneath the forest canopy. The female, subtler in earth tones, moves silently through undergrowth, protecting her clutch from predators.

At dawn, their calls - sharp, echoing cries - awaken the jungle. The male performs a proud, rhythmic dance, fanning his tail and stepping lightly through the dew. These rituals have inspired poetry, folk tales, and even temple carvings for centuries.

But this emblem of wild Sri Lanka faces quiet danger. Expanding villages and tea plantations consume the forest edges it needs to survive. Domestic chickens wandering into forest fringes threaten the species’ purity, creating hybrids that weaken the genetic lineage of this ancient bird.

Still, deep in Sinharaja and Knuckles ranges, their vivid colors flash between ferns like living jewels - reminders of how wildness still beats at the heart of the island.

2025 November 07