They eat insects and other terrestrial invertebrates, seed, fruits, and berries. Miscellaneous Gallus is Latin for cock and refers to the chicken-like associations of this species. These birds are the ancestors of domestic chickens. They were found in ancient Egypt, Greece, and southern Europe. They were introduced to America about 470 years ago.
Domestics outnumber wild poplulations.
They have a talent for swallowing small fortunes. Throughout the ruby mining areas of Burma and elsewhere, rubies and sapphires have been found in the gizzards with stones used to aid in food digestion.