The word “fowl” was once used to describe any bird, but today the word is more specific. It describes birds in the orders Galliformes and Anseriformes, which include waterfowl, gamefowl, and landfowl. Poultry are typically domesticated and raised to produce meat, eggs and feathers. Explore nine bird species and learn about their appearance, diet and habitat.
chicken
The domestic chicken is a species of jungle fowl from Southeast Asia whose ancestors can be traced back 6 million years. Chickens are often found on farms and homesteads, where they are raised for meat and eggs. However, some are kept as pets. They are one of the most widely distributed domestic animals in the world, numbering close to 24 billion individuals. They are gregarious birds, living in groups and brooding together. While most chickens live in confinement, these birds prefer areas with open tree canopies and shrubs underneath. They are omnivores and their usual diet consists of fruits, vegetables, grains and table scraps.
Duck
“Duck” is a general term for many waterfowl of the same family as swans and geese, except that they are smaller and have shorter necks. They are primarily water birds and can be found in both fresh and salt water. Ducks are domesticated and wild and live on every continent except Antarctica. Many species that live in warmer regions remain permanent in their aquatic habitats, but some species in the northern hemisphere migrate during winter. These birds have a wide range of diets such as aquatic plants, grasses, insects, fish, amphibians, worms and molluscs.
Goose
Goose can refer to several species of waterfowl in the family Anatidae (snow geese, Canada geese, etc.). These birds can be found in captivity and in the wild, and often form permanent pairs. They are territorial during nesting season and form V-shaped formations when migrating. They don’t always migrate, but do, depending on food and water availability. These birds usually live around bodies of water, such as ponds, swamps, and lakes. But you can also find them on golf courses, campuses, and other cities and suburbs.
turkey
Turkeys are large ground-dwelling birds native to North America. They are one of the largest birds in their range, with a wattle hanging from the top of their beak. They belong to the order Galliformes and are close relatives of the grouse. Native Americans of North America bred wild turkeys, and the earliest recorded fossils date back 20 million years. Domesticated turkeys live on farms, while wild turkeys inhabit forests, mountains, woods, swamps and grasslands. These birds eat fruits, nuts, plants, seeds and insects.
swan
Swans are another waterfowl closely related to ducks and geese. There are six living swan species, and many more have become extinct. These birds are popular for their graceful stature and their preference for lifelong mating, only with another bird when a long-term mate dies. Swans live in temperate environments and generally avoid the tropics. You’re more likely to find these birds in the wild, in ponds, lakes, slow-flowing rivers, and swamps, than in captivity. They mainly eat aquatic plants, but also molluscs, fish, frogs and worms.
guinea fowl
The guinea fowl is endemic to Africa and one of the oldest animals in the galliformes. They were introduced to most other parts of the world as poultry. In the US, you’ll find these birds on farms and homesteads, where they are processed for meat and eggs. They are firmer and leaner than chicken, but have a more intense game flavor. These ground-nesting birds feed on insects and seeds and are usually monogamous. During their days in captivity, they typically travel behind herds of animals and eat pests such as ticks, grasshoppers and other invertebrates. Guinea fowls in the wild are highly fliers and can maintain considerable distances in the air while avoiding predators. In their sub-Saharan African environment, they live in savannas, semi-deserts and forests.
quail
Quails are medium-sized birds in the order Galliformes, and you can recognize them by their mottled plumage and the nodules on their heads. You can find quail in the wild, but people also keep them in captivity and raise them for meat and eggs. Those in the wild live in woodlands, croplands, grasslands, and croplands. Many are bred on hunting grounds, where people can hunt them. To increase their wild populations, many farms and homesteads breed them, releasing them back into their natural habitat. These birds are omnivores, eating grains, seeds, berries, plants and insects. They are opportunistic eaters in the wild, but will eat store-bought feed in captivity.
partridge
The partridge is another ground-dwelling medium-sized bird in the order Galliformes, smaller than a pheasant but larger than a quail. They are widely distributed in Europe, Asia, and Africa, and some species were introduced to the Americas. They live in the wild in forests or farmland. But the American species is primarily used as a game bird. Farmers raise them in captivity for meat, or release them to hunting grounds where others can hunt them for meat. They are lean meats with a rich, aromatic and mild game flavour. But some people like to have these birds tending their lawn nearby, as they are quick to eat unwanted garden weeds, such as dandelions and their seeds.
Peacock
Peacock is a term used to describe three species in the Phasianidae family, male peacocks are known as peacocks. However, most people refer to both male and female peacocks as “peacocks”. You probably know them for their brightly patterned plumage that fan out and quiver. Males display ornate plumage to show their masculinity and attract females. They are not the most common birds on farms, but these species live in captivity and in the wild. While you can eat peacocks, many people keep peacocks for pest control and protection of animals. These birds scream when they see intruders. In the wild, they prefer open lowland forests and farmlands.
I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.
