BioKIDS home

Kids' Inquiry of Diverse Species

turkeys, grouse, pheasants, and partridges

Phasianidae

The bird family that includes turkeys, grouse, pheasants, and partridges is an ancient and diverse bird group. There are about 160 species in this group and they are found in North and South America, Africa, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Most of the species that make up this group are found in Africa, Europe, and Asia. They are small to large ground-dwelling birds that mainly eat seeds, fruits, and insects. They include the wild ancestors of domestic chickens, turkeys, and pheasants. In this group it is very common for males to have extravagantly colored and sized feathers and plumes in order to attract females to mate with them. Females are usually drab and brown.

 
University of Michigan Museum of ZoologyNational Science Foundation

BioKIDS home  |  Questions?  |  Animal Diversity Web  |  Cybertracker Tools

. "Phasianidae" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed March 19, 2024 at http://www.biokids.umich.edu/accounts/Phasianidae/

BioKIDS is sponsored in part by the Interagency Education Research Initiative. It is a partnership of the University of Michigan School of Education, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology, and the Detroit Public Schools. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant DRL-0628151.
Copyright © 2002-2024, The Regents of the University of Michigan. All rights reserved.

University of Michigan