Red junglefowl

A galliform bird (family Phasianidae) native to Southeast Asia, ancestor of the domestic chicken—the world's most numerous bird (~33 billion). Wild males weigh ~1–1.5 kg with brilliant red-orange-gold plumage, an arched iridescent tail, red comb and wattles; females are smaller and cryptically brown. Domestic breeds range from 0.5 kg (bantams) to 5+ kg (meat breeds), with enormous variation in plumage, egg color, and morphology. They are omnivorous ground-feeders. Domestic hens can produce 250–300+ eggs per year (vs. ~12 wild). Chickens are the primary source of poultry meat and eggs globally. In research, the chicken was the first avian genome sequenced (2004, 2n=78), and has been a key model for virology (Rous sarcoma virus, first oncogenic virus discovered, 1911), embryology (chick embryo as developmental biology workhorse), immunology (discovery of B cells in the bursa of Fabricius), and vaccine production (embryonated eggs for influenza vaccines). Gestation: 21-day incubation. Lifespan: 5–10 years.