Examples of birds that look like chickens include black grouse, blood pheasant, blue-eared pheasant, California quail, and copper pheasant.
There are many different types of birds in the world, and while some may look similar to chickens, they are not actually classified as chickens. In this article, we will take a look at some of these birds that share some common characteristics with chickens, such as their coloring and size.
We will also discuss how these birds are different from chickens, and why you might think they look like chickens.
Examples of Birds that Look Like Chickens
1. Black Grouse
| Scientific Name | Lyrurus tetrix |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | mostly found in the northern moorlands and bogs of Eurasia |
The Black Grouse is a chicken-like bird that is found in Europe and Asia. They are about the same size as a chicken, and they have black feathers with white spots.
Black Grouses are not actually classified as chickens, but they do look like them. The main difference between Black Grouses and chickens is that Black Grouses have longer tails, and they do not have the wattles or combs that chickens have.
Related Article: Do Black Grouses Have Eyebrows?
2. Blood Pheasant
| Scientific Name | Ithaginis cruentus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | the mountains of Nepal, Sikkim, northern Myanmar, Tibet, and central and south-central China |
The blood pheasant is a type of bird that is native to Asia, specifically the Himalayan region. These birds are usually found in forests at high altitudes, and they typically have red and orange plumage.
While they may look like chickens, blood pheasants are actually part of the pheasant family, which contains a variety of different species.
Related Article: 20 Birds that Mimic
3. Blue-eared Pheasant
| Scientific Name | Crossoptilon auritum |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | central China |
The blue-eared pheasant is a bird that is found in Asia, and its coloring is similar to that of a chicken. The blue-eared pheasant is usually between two and three feet long, and it has a wingspan of about four feet. This bird is considered to be a game bird, and it is hunted for its meat.
4. California Quail
| Scientific Name | Callipepla californica |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | chaparral, sagebrush, oak woodlands, and foothill forests of California and the Northwest |
These small, plump birds have round bodies and short tails. They are usually brown and white, with a black stripe running down the center of their back. California quails are found in the western United States, and they are not related to chickens.
5. Copper Pheasant
| Scientific Name | Syrmaticus soemmerringii |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Japan |
The copper pheasant is a bird that is found in Asia, and it gets its name from the copper-colored feathers on its head. This bird is similar in size to a chicken, and it has a long tail. The copper pheasant is not a chicken, but it is related to the quail.
6. Crestless Fireback
| Scientific Name | Lophura erythrophthalma |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore |
The crestless fireback is a type of pheasant that is native to Southeast Asia. These birds are usually black or dark brown in color, and they have a red patch on their breast.
These birds can reach up to two feet in length, and they typically weigh between one and four pounds.
7. Edwards’s Pheasant
| Scientific Name | Lophura edwardsi |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Vietnam |
The Edwards’s Pheasant is a brightly colored bird that is found in Vietnam and Laos. This pheasant is similar in size to a chicken, and it has a long tail and crest. The Edwards Pheasant also has red skin on its neck and head, which can make it appear to be a chicken.
8. Gambel’s Quail
| Scientific Name | Callipepla gambelii |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | The Sonoran desert |
These birds are found in the southwestern United States, and they have a similar appearance to chickens. However, they are actually classified as quails. These birds are smaller than chickens, and they have different coloring.
9. Green Pheasant
| Scientific Name | Phasianus versicolor |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Hawaii |
The Green Pheasant is a chicken-like bird that is native to Asia. It has a long tail and body, and its head is decorated with a crest of feathers. The Green Pheasant’s diet consists of insects, seeds, and fruit.
10. Hoogerwerf’s Pheasant
| Scientific Name | Lophura hoogerwerfi |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Indonesian |
The Hoogerwerf’s Pheasant is a type of bird that is found in Indonesia. This bird has a body that is similar in size to a chicken, and it also has feathers that are red, brown, and white in color.
The Hoogerwerf’s Pheasant is not classified as a chicken, however, because it does not have a comb on its head, and its wattles are much smaller.
11. Koklass Pheasant
| Scientific Name | Pucrasia macrolopha |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Afghanistan to central Nepal, and in northeastern Tibet |
The Koklass pheasant is a large bird that is native to the Himalayan region of Asia. It is similar in size to a chicken, and it has dark brown plumage with white stripes running down its back.
12. Mountain Peacock-Pheasant
| Scientific Name | Polyplectron inopinatum |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | the central Malay Peninsula |
The mountain peacock-pheasant is a bird that is found in the Himalayan region of Asia. These birds are known for their beautiful plumage and their long tails. They can grow to be about two feet long, and they weigh around three pounds. Their diet consists of insects, fruits, and seeds.
13. Northern Bobwhite
| Scientific Name | Colinus virginianus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Canada, the United States, Mexico, and Cuba, with introduced populations elsewhere in the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia |
The northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) is a small game bird that is native to North America. These birds are usually between 16 and 20 inches in length, and they have brown and white plumage. Northern bobwhite chickens typically have a black head with a white stripe running down the middle, and they also have a white throat.
These birds are often used for game bird hunting, and they can also be found in captive breeding programs. Northern bobwhite chickens typically live in woodlands and fields, and they eat a diet that consists of insects, seeds, and fruits.
14. Plain Chachalaca
| Scientific Name | Ortalis vetula |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | brushy habitats of southern Texas |
These birds are found in Mexico and South America, and they look a lot like chickens. They have dark brown or black feathers, and their heads are bare with a red or orange wattle. These birds can get up to two feet long, and they make loud calls that sound like laughing.
15. Ring-Necked Pheasant
| Scientific Name | Phasianus colchicus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Australia |
The ring-necked pheasant is a bird that is found in Asia and parts of Europe. It is a popular game bird and is also kept as a pet in some areas. These birds are usually between two and three feet long and have a wingspan of four to five feet.
They are very colorful, with a reddish body and a black tail. They also have a white ring around their neck, which is where they get their name.
These birds are not related to chickens, but they do share some similarities in their appearance.
16. Rock Ptarmigan
| Scientific Name | Lagopus muta |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | throughout most of Alaska |
The rock ptarmigan is a medium-sized bird that is found in Europe, Asia, and North America. They have a stocky body and short legs, and their feathers are mostly white with black markings.
They can also be found in shades of brown or gray, and they typically weigh between 1 and 2 pounds. Rock ptarmigans are not chickens, but they are related to grouse and quails.
17. Ruffed Grouse
| Scientific Name | Bonasa umbellus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | across North America |
The Ruffed Grouse is a bird that is found in North America, and it is closely related to the chicken. This bird has a brownish-grey plumage, with black and white stripes on its tail.
It also has a crest on its head, which is made up of feathers that are black and white. The Ruffed Grouse is a medium-sized bird, and it can grow to be about 16 inches long.
18. Scaled Quail
| Scientific Name | Callipepla squamata |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | the southwestern United States and Mexico |
The Scaled quail is a small bird that is found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. These birds are brown and white, with scale-like patterns on their feathers. They are about the same size as a chicken, and they can be found in open areas, such as grasslands.
Scaled quail are not actually classified as chickens, but they do share some common characteristics with these birds.
19. Siamese Fireback
| Scientific Name | Lophura diardi |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam in Southeast Asia |
The Siamese fireback is a type of pheasant that is native to Southeast Asia. These birds are usually between two and three feet in length, and they have dark plumage with light stripes running down their backs.
20. Swinhoe’s Pheasant
| Scientific Name | Lophura swinhoii |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | central Taiwan |
The Swinhoe’s Pheasant is a bird that is found in China and Taiwan. This bird is similar to chickens in that they are both red and white. However, Swinhoe’s Pheasant is much larger than a chicken, weighing in at around 4 pounds. This bird is also classified as a game bird, which means that it is hunted for sport.
21. Vietnamese Pheasant
| Scientific Name | Lophura hatinhensis |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | central Vietnam |
The Vietnamese pheasant is a type of bird that is often mistaken for a chicken. This is because they share some common features, such as their coloring and size. However, Vietnamese pheasants are actually a different species of bird altogether.
22. White-eared Pheasant
| Scientific Name | Crossoptilon crossoptilon |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | China, Qinghai, Sichuan, Yunnan, and Tibet |
The white-eared pheasant is a bird that is found in Asia, and it shares some similarities with chickens. For example, they both have white feathers on their heads. In addition, the white-eared pheasant is also about the same size as a chicken.
23. Wild Turkey
| Scientific Name | Meleagris gallopavo |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | eastern and central North America |
The wild turkey is a large bird that is native to North America. These birds are usually brown or black in color, and they have long tails. Male turkeys also have protruding breasts, which is why they are sometimes mistaken for chickens.
However, turkeys are much larger than chickens, and their legs are not as sturdy.
Conclusion
While there are some similarities between chickens and other birds, they are mostly unique in their own ways. There are a variety of different types of birds that can be mistaken for chickens, but the most notable difference is usually their size. Chickens are much smaller than most of the other birds on this list.
Hi, I’m Garreth. Living in South Africa I’ve had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal. When I was younger I always wanted to be a game ranger but unfortunately, life happens and now at least I get to write about them and tell you my experiences.