JUNGLE FOWL

The Sri Lankan Jungle Fowl, known locally as the ‘Wali Kukula’, is the national bird of the country. It is an extremely colorful bird; the male has a reddish-orange plumage, with a prominent red and yellow crest on its head. It ranges from 66 to 72 centimeters in length, and is a very common bird that can be found in forests and rural areas throughout the island. In Sri Lanka, it is frequently spotted at locations such as Kitulgala, Yala and Sinharaja. Smaller and distinctly drab in color, the female is only 35 centimeters in length, with brown plumage and white markings on the lower belly and breast. The Jungle Fowl is omnivorous by nature, with a diet consisting of grain, seeds, and small insects. Similar to the domesticated chicken, it can often be found foraging the ground for food, especially along open tracks in the forest. Although the Jungle Fowl is classified as ‘Least Concerned’ by the IUCN, it is still a protected bird under the Flora and Fauna Protection ordinance. As of now, it remains seemingly unaffected by human disturbance and habitat destruction.

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