jungle fowl
noun
: any of several Asian wild birds (genus Gallus) related to the pheasants
especially
: a bird (G. gallus) of southeastern Asia from which domestic chickens have probably descended
Examples of jungle fowl in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Until recently, it was fairly widely accepted that people were breeding jungle fowl in Asia as far back as 10,000 years ago.
—
Rachel Feltman, Popular Science, 19 July 2023
Neanderthals roasted brown crabs in Gruta da Figueira Brava ninety thousand years ago, genetic taint from chickens has disrupted the red jungle fowl genome, and Vikings brought over their own animals in addition to stealing them from Britons.
—Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 21 Apr. 2023
The bloody pastime may actually explain why jungle fowl were raised in captivity in the first place, perhaps giving rise to the domestic chicken.
—Richard Pallardy, Discover Magazine, 14 July 2021
Most researchers believe that Gallus gallus, the red jungle fowl, was first domesticated in East or Southeast Asia.
—Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 19 July 2017
Ever since the red jungle fowl emerged from the forests of south-east Asia and hitched a ride on trading ships to spread around the globe, the story of the chicken has hewn close to our own.
—Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 14 Oct. 2016
In 2020, a study confirmed that the living chicken’s ancestor was the jungle fowl subspecies, Gallus gallus spaedicus, narrowing the area of domestication to Southeast Asia.
—Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 June 2022
Biologist Charles Darwin first proposed that chickens may have descended from the red jungle fowl because of their similar appearances, per Science.
—Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 June 2022
Chickens may be the most populous bird on the planet while their ancestor, the red jungle fowl, persists only in a few limited habitats.
—Brian Handwerk, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 May 2022
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Rachel Feltman, Popular Science, 19 July 2023
Neanderthals roasted brown crabs in Gruta da Figueira Brava ninety thousand years ago, genetic taint from chickens has disrupted the red jungle fowl genome, and Vikings brought over their own animals in addition to stealing them from Britons.
—Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 21 Apr. 2023
The bloody pastime may actually explain why jungle fowl were raised in captivity in the first place, perhaps giving rise to the domestic chicken.
—Richard Pallardy, Discover Magazine, 14 July 2021
Most researchers believe that Gallus gallus, the red jungle fowl, was first domesticated in East or Southeast Asia.
—Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 19 July 2017
Ever since the red jungle fowl emerged from the forests of south-east Asia and hitched a ride on trading ships to spread around the globe, the story of the chicken has hewn close to our own.
—Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 14 Oct. 2016
In 2020, a study confirmed that the living chicken’s ancestor was the jungle fowl subspecies, Gallus gallus spaedicus, narrowing the area of domestication to Southeast Asia.
—Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 June 2022
Biologist Charles Darwin first proposed that chickens may have descended from the red jungle fowl because of their similar appearances, per Science.
—Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 June 2022
Chickens may be the most populous bird on the planet while their ancestor, the red jungle fowl, persists only in a few limited habitats.
—Brian Handwerk, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 May 2022
Cite this Entry
“Jungle fowl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jungle%20fowl. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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