The
Galliformes are an
order of heavy-bodied ground-feeding
birds that includes
turkey,
grouse,
chicken,
New World quail and
Old World quail,
ptarmigan,
partridge,
pheasant,
junglefowl and the
Cracidae. The name derives from "gallus", Latin for "cock" or "rooster". Common names are
gamefowl or
gamebirds,
landfowl,
gallinaceous birds, or
galliforms. "
Wildfowl" or just "
fowl" are also often used for the Galliformes, but usually these terms also refer to
waterfowl (
Anseriformes), and occasionally to other commonly hunted birds. This group has about 290
species, one or more of which are found in essentially every part of the world's
continents (except for the innermost
deserts and perpetual
ice). They are rarer on
islands, and in contrast to the closely related waterfowl, are essentially absent from
oceanic islands—unless introduced there by humans. Several species have been
domesticated during their long and extensive relationships with humans.