New Mexico Birds: Galliformes

 

This is the same taxonomic order that includes turkeys and chickens. Hover over a photo series to control the images.


Odontophoridae: Gambel's Quail (Callipepla gambelii)

 

Odontophoridae: Scaled Quail (Callipepla squamata)

My first photo ever of a scaled quail, taken on a wet, gloomy morning.

 

Phasianidae: Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)

Wild turkeys come in multiple subspecies, including at least three in New Mexico. The turkeys that Americans consume on Thanksgiving Day were domesticated in southern Mexico, from the wild subspecies found there. The Spanish introduced domesticated turkeys to Europe, where they became barnyard animals. British settlers then brought domesticated turkeys back across the Atlantic, into what became the thirteen United States. 

 

Phasianidae: Ring-Necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)

An introduced species, but the males sure are handsome! And they're close relatives of turkeys—who knew.