Sri Lanka Spurfowl (Galloperdix bicalcarata)
Conservation Profile, Taxonomy, and Behavioral Ecology of the Endemic Sri Lanka Spurfowl ( Galloperdix bicalcarata ) The Sri Lanka Spurfowl ( Galloperdix bicalcarata ), locally known in Sinhala as the Haban Kukula (හබන් කුකුලා) and in Tamil as Ilangai Kaattu Kozhi (இலங்கை காட்டு கோழி), is a small, elusive ground-dwelling bird endemic exclusively to the wet zone rainforests of Sri Lanka. Belonging to the heavy-bodied, terrestrial order Galliformes, it is a key representative of the island's unique avian biodiversity and is closely related to the true pheasants and junglefowl. Unlike its relative, the national bird (Sri Lankan Junglefowl), the Spurfowl is notoriously secretive, far more often heard than seen as it navigates the dense undergrowth of pristine rainforests. 1. Scientific Taxonomy and Evolutionary Lineage The Sri Lanka Spurfowl represents a taxonomically distinct lineage within the Phasianidae family. It is one of three species belonging to the genus Gallo...