The Sri Lankan Jungle fowl (Gallus lafayetii), also known during the colonial era as the Ceylon Jungle fowl, is a member of the pheasant family which is endemic to Sri Lanka, where it is the national bird As with other jungle fowl, the Sri Lankan Jungle fowl is strongly sexually dimorphic: the male is much larger than the female, with more vivid plumage and a highly exaggerated wattle and comb.
The male Sri Lankan Jungle fowl ranges from 66–73 cm (26–29 in) in length and 790–1,140 g (1.7–2.5 lb) in weight, essentially resembling a large, muscular rooster. The male has orange-red body plumage, and dark purple to black wings and tail. The feathers of the main descending from head to base of spine are golden, and the face has bare red skin and wattles. The comb is red with a yellow centre. The female is much smaller, at only 35 cm (14 in) in length and 510–645 g (1.1–1.42 lb) in weight, with dull brown plumage with white patterning on the lower belly and breast, ideal camouflage for a nesting bird. Sri Lanka Jungle fowl is a terrestrial species. It spends most of its time foraging for food by scratching the ground for various seeds, fallen fruit and insects.
It is a ground nesting bird, and lays 2-4 eggs in a nest. Similar to many members of the pheasant family, the colourful male plays no part in the incubation of the eggs or rearing. These duties are performed by the drab and well-camouflaged female. It is common in forest and scrub habitats, and is commonly spotted at sites such as Kithulgala, Yala and Sinharaja
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