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Bekisar
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 | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (November 2010) |
| Bekisar | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Galliformes |
| Family: | Phasianidae |
| Tribe: | Gallini |
| Genus: | Gallus |
| Species: | |
The Bekisar, or Ayam Bekisar, is the first-generation hybrid offspring of the green junglefowl (Gallus varius) and domesticated red junglefowl from Java (Gallus gallus bankiva). The roosters have a glossy blackish-green plumage and are highly prized for their loud clear calls and striking colouration, while the hens are usually dull and infertile.
Bekisars were traditionally used by the original inhabitants of the Sunda Islands as symbolic or spiritual mascots on outrigger canoes and consequently spread over a wide area. The original hybrids are rarely fertile (and hens are generally sterile), but backcrosses with domestic chicken are sometimes achieved and thus several landraces of Pacific chickens have some Bekisar ancestry. While the hybrid is only of historical interest in most regions, on Java it is still being produced as a more stereotyped breed with several local varieties, known as Ayam Bekisar.
History
[edit]Background
[edit]The wild green junglefowl is a mangrove forest-adapted species. Unlike the red junglefowl, the ancestor of most domestic chickens, it is adapted for life with little fresh water. During the dry season, and also on arid volcanic islands, the green junglefowl gets most of its water from dew in the coastal fog on fruits and insects. It also feeds on aquatic animals washed up on the shores and littoral pools, which red junglefowl are unable to do. At low tide, green junglefowl forage for starfish, small crabs, copepods, and detritus. At high tide, they fly to mangrove islets to roost. The far-carrying cries of the male green junglefowl can be heard over the breakers, even though their calls' volume is quite low in comparison to that of a domestic fowl or red junglefowl.
Hybridisation
[edit]
The practice of hybridisation is so ancient that it is not known precisely where it began. Modern Sundanese and Javanese people claim that it first occurred in the Kangean Islands in the Java Sea. The native peoples of the Sunda Archipelago learned that they could persuade young, unpaired wild green junglefowl males to mate with domestic game hens.
Development
[edit]
The progeny were used for communication between canoes. Each rooster has a unique voice, due to its hybrid ancestry. A rooster would be selected for its unusual voice and hoisted up the mast of the canoe in a special bamboo basket. From their elevated baskets, the roosters crowed incessantly in prolonged shrieking matches. The calls combine the prolonged notes of the green junglefowl with the added volume of domestic fowl, whose wild ancestors' voices had to be heard through dense vegetation. The Bekisar's voice can often be heard for two miles over the sea. The seafaring cultures took to keeping these male Bekisars on their canoes at all times.
Spread
[edit]When the native peoples of Java and the Sunda Islands migrated to Oceania and beyond, they brought with them dogs, pigs, yams, coconuts, and chickens. Each migration brought a few dozen semi-domestic game fowl, not unlike those seen today running feral in tropical Asian villages. Anthropologists have provided evidence that only a very few boats in any flotilla carried domestic animals. Each seafaring vessel would, however, have carried at least two or three cages with Bekisars aboard. The chieftain and warriors may have carried even more Bekisars on each of their vessels.
Nearly every new migration of seafaring people brought game fowl (the semi-domestic chickens descended from the Indonesian red junglefowl Gallus bankiva) to their new island homes. The Bekisar roosters were also present in sufficient numbers to significantly affect each island's native base population of feral fowl. An escaped Bekisar was next to impossible to capture. A Bekisar rooster released into a tropical mangrove forested island in Oceania or the South Pacific would easily re-adapt to the wild as if it were a wild green junglefowl.
Establishment of feral populations
[edit]Many of the more remote, typhoon-prone islands with very small or failed human colonies are the naturalized homes of wild junglefowl, described as violet-colored junglefowl by early European naturalists and considered a new species. Backcrossing of many generations of the hybrid Bekisar males with feral domestic game hens must occur before fertile females are produced. Female hybrid offspring of green junglefowl crossed with domestic fowl are always sterile, laying eggs that are incapable of being fertilized by either green or red junglefowl, or by domestic fowl. This means that backcrossing would be a common mode of self-perpetuation.
When competing clans, tribal wars, disease, and typhoons extirpated or very nearly exterminated human populations or forced migrations, feral fowl, pigs, and dogs would often remain on these remote islands. Natural predators such as monitor lizards, seabirds, pythons, and other predators would hunt out the feral chickens with the most domesticated traits. Those incapable of flying or running rapidly would not live long enough to reproduce. Those incapable of surviving long periods without fresh water would also perish, and those lacking the appropriate instincts to survive frequent typhoons would also be selected against.
Local adaptation
[edit]The Bekisar, with the progeny they generated by interbreeding with feral chickens, have adapted to local conditions. With each successive generation of backcrossing, the odds of a fertile hybrid female increase. At a certain point a genetic equilibrium is reached, and a fresh generation of viable females, capable of reproducing, is produced. Over the long run, some of the more remote islands, such as New Caledonia, Ponape, Marquesas, Rapa, and Rapa Nui, became populated with flocks unique in appearance, not closely resembling either parental form.
When successive migrations of Polynesians carrying domestic fowl (derived from red junglefowl) appeared on these islands, most of the violaceous traits vanished through genetic swamping, only persisting on the most isolated islands. From these isolated island populations, unique breeds have developed, in particular on Ponape, the Marquesas and Rapa Nui (Easter Island). The famous Araucana hens, named after the Araucanian Indians of Chile, are derived from these breeds. These breeds produce tinted blue, grey, lilac and green eggs. The green junglefowl is the only species of junglefowl that produces tinted eggs.
In popular culture
[edit]The Bekisar is the faunal symbol of East Java, a province of Indonesia. The male is used in East Java, Bali and the surrounding islands in popular vocal competitions; this practice has caused the decline of wild green junglefowl populations.
Bibliography
[edit]External links
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Bekisar
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Taxonomy and nomenclature
Etymology
The term "bekisar" originates from the indigenous languages of East Java Province, Indonesia, specifically the Kangean dialect spoken on the Kangean Islands east of Madura Island, where the hybrid bird was initially developed and documented. It entered broader usage through Javanese and standard Indonesian as "bekisar" or "ayam bekisar" (with "ayam" denoting "chicken" in Indonesian), referring exclusively to the first-generation male hybrid between the green junglefowl (Gallus varius) and a domestic hen derived from the red junglefowl (Gallus gallus).[3] The name reflects the bird's cultural significance in the region, where it has been prized since traditional times for its ornamental value and vocal traits, and it appears in ornithological records as early as the 1920s.[4] Equivalent terms exist in related Austronesian languages, such as Balinese (bekisar) and Sundanese (beukisar or bekisar), indicating its deep roots in the local linguistic and faunal nomenclature of the Sunda Islands.[5]Hybrid classification
The Bekisar, known locally as Ayam Bekisar, is classified as an interspecific hybrid within the genus Gallus of the family Phasianidae. It results from the crossbreeding of a male green junglefowl (Gallus varius) with a female domestic chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus), the latter being a domesticated form derived from the red junglefowl (Gallus gallus).[6][7] This hybridization typically produces first-generation (F1) offspring, which are sterile or have greatly reduced fertility, with females typically infertile and males exhibiting partial fertility in some cases, preventing the establishment of a stable hybrid population without repeated crosses.[8] As hybrids do not receive formal binomial nomenclature under the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, the Bekisar is denoted taxonomically as Gallus varius × Gallus gallus domesticus. The parental combination is unidirectional, with green junglefowl males crossed onto domestic hens to yield the characteristic Bekisar phenotype, including a single throat wattle inherited dominantly from G. varius and variable plumage and size influenced by the domestic parent.[6] This classification reflects its artificial origin through human-mediated breeding, primarily on Java and surrounding islands, rather than natural speciation.[7] Historically, Bekisar specimens were mistaken for distinct wild species due to their unique appearance, leading to erroneous descriptions such as Gallus aeneus (Temminck, 1825), Gallus temminckii (Gray, 1849), and Gallus violaceus (Kelsall, 1891). These misclassifications were later corrected through comparative morphology and recognition of hybrid traits, confirming their status as artificial hybrids rather than valid taxa.[6] The Bekisar's hybrid vigor contributes to its cultural significance in Indonesia, where it was designated the provincial bird of East Java in 1980, though this status underscores ongoing conservation concerns for the wild G. varius parent species.[7]Physical description
Plumage and morphology
The Bekisar is a first-generation (F1) hybrid resulting from the cross between a male green junglefowl (Gallus varius) and a female domestic chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus), leading to a unique combination of morphological traits from both parental species. These hybrids, primarily the males, are selectively bred in Indonesia for their ornamental value and vocal qualities.[9] Bekisar roosters exhibit a glossy blackish-green plumage that is iridescent and highly distinctive, setting them apart from either parent and contributing to their cultural significance in competitions. This coloration arises from the dominant green junglefowl traits, modified by domestic influences, resulting in a shiny, metallic sheen across the body feathers. Neck hackles are elongate with truncate tips, a feature inherited from G. varius, while the back and rump display red pigmentation, and the back feathers are fringed and dimorphic, reflecting domestic chicken patterns. Tail feathers lack the basal fluff typical of green junglefowl, instead showing a sleeker structure.[10][11] In terms of overall morphology, Bekisar roosters possess intermediate body size between the smaller green junglefowl (males typically 0.8–1.1 kg) and larger domestic breeds, with average adult weights of 1.5–2.5 kg. They feature a serrated comb and double gular wattles from the domestic parent, along with a robust build suited to captive rearing. Variations in plumage and size occur depending on the domestic hen's breed, leading to diverse patterns historically mistaken for separate species by 19th-century ornithologists. Hens, which are usually sterile and less prized, show pencilled feathers on the back, rump, upper tail coverts, and wing coverts, with barred outer vanes on the secondaries and salmon-colored breast feathers, blending barred G. varius patterns with stippled domestic traits.[10][11][4]Sexual dimorphism
Bekisar hybrids display pronounced sexual dimorphism, particularly in plumage coloration, body size, and overall morphology, reflecting traits from their parental species: the male green junglefowl (Gallus varius) and the female domestic chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus, derived from the red junglefowl). This dimorphism aligns with the strong sexual differences observed in wild junglefowl, where males are more ornate to attract mates, while females exhibit camouflaged features for nesting.[6] Males typically feature glossy, iridescent blackish-green plumage, often with a metallic sheen inherited from the green junglefowl sire, and double gular wattles from the domestic parent. Their body weight ranges from 1.5 to 2.5 kg, making them larger and more robust than females, with variations in size and comb development depending on the domestic hen breed used in hybridization. These traits contribute to their cultural value in Indonesia for ornamental and crowing competitions.[12][6] Females, in contrast, are generally smaller than males and exhibit pencilled feathers blending barred G. varius patterns with stippled domestic traits, providing camouflage but lacking the vibrant coloration of males. Due to their infertility in the first generation—a result of hybrid sterility—they have historically been undervalued, often culled or used solely for meat, leading to limited documentation of their specific morphological traits. Backcrossing male hybrids with domestic hens over multiple generations is required to produce fertile females, which may show intermediate plumage patterns.[12][6]Biology
Hybridization process
The Bekisar is produced through controlled interspecific hybridization in captivity, involving the mating of a male green junglefowl (Gallus varius) with a female domestic chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus), the latter typically a local Indonesian breed such as the Kampung chicken derived from the red junglefowl (G. gallus). This first-generation (F1) cross has been practiced for centuries in Indonesia, particularly on Java, to create birds prized for their ornamental plumage and distinctive long-crowing vocalizations. The process occurs in confined environments where breeders select healthy, unrelated individuals to ensure viable offspring, often housing the green junglefowl male with one or more domestic hens to facilitate natural mating.[13][6] The hybridization leverages the genetic compatibility within the genus Gallus, though outcomes vary due to Haldane's rule, which predicts greater sterility in heterogametic (female) hybrids in birds (ZW sex chromosome system); however, Bekisar males are often partially fertile while females are typically sterile. Breeders monitor the pairing for successful insemination, with incubation of eggs conducted artificially or naturally under controlled conditions to mimic tropical environments, yielding chicks that exhibit intermediate traits such as iridescent green-black plumage and distinctive crowing lasting approximately 2-3 seconds.[3][10] This captive method avoids natural hybridization, which is rare due to geographic separation and behavioral barriers between wild green junglefowl and domestic populations.[13][6] Genetic studies confirm the maternal lineage traces to domestic chickens via mitochondrial DNA, while paternal contributions from G. varius introduce unique alleles for coloration and vocal traits, with limited introgression observed in some domestic breeds. The process requires expertise to manage the green junglefowl's aggressive temperament and ensure biosecurity, as wild-sourced birds may carry pathogens absent in domestic flocks. Despite ethical concerns over using G. varius (Least Concern per IUCN as of 2024), regulated breeding sustains the Bekisar without wild population impacts.[13][14]Reproduction and fertility
The Bekisar, as a first-generation (F1) hybrid between the male green junglefowl (Gallus varius) and the female domestic chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus), exhibits significant reproductive challenges primarily due to hybrid sterility. Female Bekisar are invariably sterile and do not produce viable offspring, a trait observed consistently in historical and captive breeding records.[4] This sterility limits direct reproduction within the hybrid line, with females historically culled after reaching maturity for their ornamental value in plumage and vocalizations. Male Bekisar demonstrate partial fertility, though at low rates, allowing limited backcrossing with domestic chicken hens to generate subsequent generations. Charles Darwin noted in 1868 that while Bekisar hybrids are "invariably sterile" in common rearing, exceptions occurred in controlled environments like the London Zoological Gardens, where some fertile offspring were produced.[4] Later experiments in 1884 at the same institution successfully reared fertile hybrids from G. varius crosses, indicating that environmental factors in captivity can enhance reproductive viability.[4] However, overall fertility remains low, with reports from 19th-century avicultural trials describing reduced hatching success and chick survival in backcrosses.[4] Genomic evidence supports occasional successful introgression, with traces of G. varius ancestry detected in modern domestic chicken populations, particularly in Indonesian breeds, suggesting rare but impactful gene flow through backcrossing.[13] This introgression occurs in specific chromosomal regions, such as a 100-kb segment on chromosome 5, highlighting how limited male fertility has contributed to genetic diversity in local poultry lines despite the predominant sterility barrier. In contemporary Indonesian breeding, artificial insemination is sometimes employed to improve backcross success, though fertility rates for Bekisar males remain low in documented cases.[13]Vocalizations and behavior
The Bekisar, a first-generation hybrid between male green junglefowl (Gallus varius) and female domestic chickens, is renowned for its distinctive vocalizations, particularly the crowing of roosters, which combines elements from both parental species. Rooster crowing serves primary functions in territorial defense and courtship, allowing males to assert dominance and attract females, similar to other galliform birds.[3][10] Bekisar crowing is characterized by a rhythmic, straight pattern consisting of two syllables: a front sound with a low tune described as big, thick, long, and clean, followed by a back sound with a high tune that is thick, long, straight, and clean. This produces a loud, clear call that is highly prized in Indonesian breeding competitions for its beauty and clarity, often lasting approximately 2 to 3 seconds with an average of two syllables per crow. Unlike longer-crowing breeds like the Pelung, Bekisar vocalizations are relatively short but piercing, reflecting the hybrid's inheritance of the green junglefowl's raucous territorial phrases. Hens produce typical domestic chicken clucks and alarm calls but are generally less vocal.[3][10][3] In terms of behavior, Bekisar roosters exhibit heightened territoriality and vocal persistence, often crowing repeatedly to communicate over distances, a trait amplified in cultural practices where they are placed in elevated cages for inter-vocal competitions. This behavior underscores their role in social signaling, with males displaying aggressive posturing toward rivals during crowing bouts. Females, being infertile in the F1 generation, show subdued foraging and nesting behaviors akin to domestic hens, prioritizing consumption over reproduction in breeding contexts. Overall, Bekisar behavior blends the green junglefowl's wild vigilance—such as alert scanning and quick evasion—with the docility of domestic stock, making them adaptable yet challenging to manage in mixed flocks.[3][10]History
Origins and background
The Bekisar, known locally as ayam Bekisar, is a first-generation (F1) hybrid resulting from the crossbreeding of a male green junglefowl (Gallus varius) with a female domestic chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus). This hybridization produces offspring prized in Indonesian culture for their striking plumage, elongated crowing, and ornamental value, though the hybrids are typically sterile in the female line. The green junglefowl, endemic to Java, Bali, and surrounding Indonesian islands, contributes wild traits such as vibrant coloration and vocal prowess, while the domestic chicken provides a foundation for managed breeding.[6][15] The origins of Bekisar hybridization trace back to ancient practices in Indonesia, likely commencing on the Kangean Islands in the Java Sea, east of Madura in East Java province. This region, with its mangrove forests and proximity to green junglefowl habitats, facilitated early interbreeding between wild males and domesticated females, possibly driven by human selection for aesthetic and auditory traits. Historical records indicate that such hybrids were documented as early as the early 19th century, with Dutch ornithologist Coenraad Jacob Temminck describing a hybrid as Gallus aeneus in 1825 based on Java specimens, highlighting the Bekisar's established presence in local aviculture by that period. The practice is considered a cornerstone of Indonesian poultry breeding, with Bekisar viewed as the progenitor of long-crowing chicken varieties across the archipelago.[6] Genetic studies confirm the Bekisar's hybrid status through evidence of limited gene flow from G. varius into domestic chicken populations, particularly in Indonesian native breeds like the Kedu Hitam and Sumatera. Whole-genome analyses reveal introgressed regions, such as a 100-kb segment on chromosome 5, indicating historical admixture events that enhanced traits like crow duration and feather iridescence without widespread genomic integration. This background underscores the Bekisar's role in Southeast Asian evolutionary history, where human-mediated hybridization has shaped local biodiversity and cultural practices for centuries.[15]Development in Java
The practice of hybridizing green junglefowl (Gallus varius) with domestic chickens to produce Bekisar originated in ancient times, likely commencing on the Kangean Islands in the Java Sea, which form part of East Java province in Indonesia.[4] This hybridization involved crossing male green junglefowl, endemic to Java and nearby islands, with female domestic chickens derived from the red junglefowl (Gallus gallus), resulting in first-generation (F1) offspring prized for their striking plumage and distinctive crowing.[13] Local communities in East Java refined these breeding efforts over centuries to emphasize traits such as melodious vocalizations lasting approximately 3 seconds and iridescent blackish-green feathers, transforming Bekisar into a symbol of the region's fauna.[10] In Java, particularly East Java, Bekisar breeding developed as a traditional practice driven by cultural and ornamental interests rather than utility. Breeders selectively paired wild-caught green junglefowl males with local domestic hens, a process that continues today due to the infertility of female hybrids, necessitating repeated crosses to sustain populations.[10] This method has led to localized variants, such as the all-black Bekicem, achieved by crossing Bekisar with the fibromelanotic Ayam Cemani breed native to Java, enhancing aesthetic appeal for display and competition.[10] Genetic studies confirm ongoing introgression from green junglefowl into Indonesian domestic lines, with evidence of admixture in breeds like Kedu Hitam from Central Java, underscoring the hybrid's role in regional poultry diversity.[13] Bekisar gained prominence in Java through their use in vocal competitions, where "good singing" males—capable of sustained, two-syllable crows—can command high market prices, reflecting the breed's economic and social value.[4] Historical records indicate that by the 19th century, European naturalists documented these hybrids from Java specimens, noting their confinement breeding and plumage variations, which contributed to early ornithological interest in gallinaceous hybridization.[4] Today, conservation concerns arise from habitat loss affecting wild green junglefowl populations on Java, prompting calls for sustainable breeding to preserve this cultural hybrid without overexploiting source species.[13]Historical spread
The Bekisar, a hybrid between the green junglefowl (Gallus varius) and domestic chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus), originated in the Kangean Islands east of Madura, specifically in the Sumenep Regency of East Java Province, Indonesia. It serves as the official faunal symbol of East Java and was initially developed through deliberate crossings for its distinctive long crow and ornamental plumage.[10] Traditional practices among the indigenous peoples of the Sunda Islands played a pivotal role in its dissemination. Bekisar roosters were carried as symbolic or spiritual mascots aboard outrigger canoes, where they were housed in bamboo cages and valued for their loud, clear crows that could signal across waters during fishing voyages. This seafaring custom enabled the hybrid to spread from its East Java origins to neighboring islands in the Lesser Sunda archipelago, including Madura, Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, Komodo, and Flores.[1] By the early 20th century, selective breeding in Java further standardized Bekisar varieties, enhancing their appeal in crowing competitions and accelerating regional adoption. Despite its sterility in most cases—limiting natural propagation—human-mediated transport and cultural breeding efforts confined Bekisar primarily to Indonesia, with no verified historical records of establishment outside the archipelago.[10][16]Distribution and ecology
Establishment of feral populations
Feral populations of Bekisar, the hybrid offspring of green junglefowl (Gallus varius) and red junglefowl (Gallus gallus), became established primarily through escapes and intentional releases by seafaring communities in Indonesia and the broader Pacific region. These hybrids, prized for their striking plumage and vocalizations, were transported across islands by Austronesian voyagers from around 1500 BC, with further spread by Polynesian voyagers around 1200 AD, often serving as shipboard alarms. When vessels encountered difficulties or colonies failed, birds were released or escaped, allowing Bekisar roosters—only one generation removed from wild ancestry—to rapidly adapt to island environments.[17][1] In Indonesia, feral Bekisar thrive on remote, arid islets surrounding Komodo and Flores, as well as on Java, Madura, and Kangean islands, where they survive harsh conditions without access to fresh water by foraging on marine invertebrates in coastal pools. These populations demonstrate resilience in typhoon-prone areas with sparse human presence, interbreeding with local red junglefowl or feral domestic chickens to sustain hybrid lineages despite the sterility of first-generation females. Backcrossing over generations has led to naturalized flocks that exhibit enhanced flight capabilities and foraging behaviors suited to mangrove and scrub habitats.[1] Further dispersal by seafarers established feral groups in the Pacific, including the Marquesas, Society Islands, and Easter Island (Rapa Nui), where small founder populations of hybrids contributed to archaic Oceanic breeds through admixture. On these isolated outposts, Bekisar-influenced birds formed self-sustaining colonies amid limited human intervention, influencing local biodiversity. Such establishments highlight the role of human-mediated transport in hybrid dispersal across Oceania.[17]Local adaptations
In Indonesian ecosystems, Bekisar hybrids contribute to local chicken populations through backcrossing, as first-generation males, though partially sterile, mate with domestic hens to introgress green junglefowl (Gallus varius) genetics. This process enhances genetic diversity, enabling adaptations such as improved innate immunity via genes like IPO7 on chromosome 5, which supports resistance to tropical pathogens.[9] Local chicken breeds with Bekisar-derived ancestry, common in Java and surrounding islands, exhibit notable disease resistance, including to Avian Influenza, with favorable genotypes (e.g., AA and AG at the Mx gene) comprising over 80% of tested populations. This resilience stems from the hybrid vigor combining wild junglefowl hardiness with domestic traits suited to low-input farming systems.[18] Habitat-wise, these populations thrive in diverse tropical settings, including coastal lowlands, forest edges, scrublands, and areas adjacent to rice fields—environments mirroring those of the green junglefowl parent species. Inheriting foraging behaviors like ground-scratching for insects and seeds during early morning and late afternoon, Bekisar lineages show behavioral flexibility in semi-wild or extensive rearing conditions across Indonesia. The capture of wild green junglefowl males for Bekisar production poses risks to G. varius populations through hybridization and depletion.[19][1]Habitat preferences
Bekisar, as first-generation hybrids between male green junglefowl (Gallus varius) and female red junglefowl (Gallus gallus) or domestic derivatives, display habitat preferences shaped by the ecological niches of their progenitors, particularly in regions where escaped or released individuals form temporary feral groups. These birds favor disturbed, edge habitats including secondary forests, scrublands, and areas adjacent to human settlements, mirroring the red junglefowl's affinity for lush undergrowth and open clearings in tropical and subtropical zones.[20][21] In coastal and maritime environments of Indonesia, such as those around Java, Bali, Madura, Kangean, Flores, and Komodo, Bekisar thrive in low-lying valleys, forest margins near rice plantations, and savanna-like scrub, often avoiding dense woodland interiors. This aligns with the green junglefowl's preference for coastal areas and semi-open habitats up to 1,500–3,000 m elevation, where foraging opportunities in insects, seeds, and cultivated grains are abundant. Feral Bekisar, though limited by sterility, have been observed persisting in typhoon-prone, remote island settings, including tiny desert islets lacking fresh water sources, where they obtain moisture from marine invertebrates and littoral pools.[19][1] Adaptations to mangrove swamps and human-modified landscapes, such as village environs and failed colonial sites in the South Pacific archipelagoes, underscore their resilience to tropical downpours, strong winds, and variable salinity, enabling survival in otherwise challenging insular ecologies. These preferences facilitate their role in maritime cultures, where captive individuals are often housed in elevated bamboo structures to mimic natural perching amid variable coastal conditions.[22][1]Cultural significance
Symbolism in Indonesian culture
In Indonesian culture, particularly in East Java, the Bekisar holds a prominent position as the official faunal emblem of the province, representing local pride and natural heritage. Designated as the mascot (lambang fauna) of Jawa Timur, it embodies the region's biodiversity and cultural identity, often featured in official symbols and provincial representations.[23][24] Historically, the Bekisar has symbolized prestige, grandeur, and social status among the elite, frequently kept as an ornamental bird by nobles, officials, and the wealthy to signify affluence and refinement. Its striking appearance and melodious crowing reinforced this association, with high-quality specimens commanding significant value in traditional society. Additionally, Bekisar birds were traditionally employed by inhabitants of the Sunda Islands, including East Java and surrounding areas, as symbolic or spiritual mascots on outrigger canoes (perahu pinisi and similar vessels), where their distinctive calls served practical roles in maritime communication, such as signaling during storms or coordinating between ships. This usage underscores the bird's role in connecting cultural spirituality with everyday seafaring life.[24][3] In artistic traditions, the Bekisar appears in batik motifs, particularly in East Javanese styles like those from Madura, where the "Ayam Bekisar" pattern symbolizes luxury and prosperity. These designs, depicting the bird's elegant form, reflect broader themes of harmony between wild and domesticated elements, mirroring the hybrid nature of the Bekisar itself as a bridge between nature and human cultivation. Such motifs are woven into textiles that convey social values, emphasizing beauty derived from diversity and cultural refinement.[25]Use in competitions and breeding
Bekisar males are highly valued in vocal competitions held throughout East Java, Bali, and surrounding Indonesian islands, where their unique crowing serves as the primary focus of evaluation. These events, often referred to as "seni suara alam" or natural voice art contests, assess the birds' ability to produce long, rhythmic calls that captivate audiences and judges.[26] The ideal Bekisar crow consists of two syllables lasting about 2-3 seconds, featuring a front sound that is low, thick, long, and clean, followed by a back sound that is high, thick, long, straight, and clean. Clear, shrill tones without distortion are essential for success, as any deviation results in disqualification. Additionally, the beauty and color of the plumage—typically shiny blackish-green but varying with crosses like red or Cemani—serve as secondary criteria, enhancing the bird's overall appeal and market value in these contests. Competitions such as the Bejo Mas Cup or those in Sumenep draw large crowds, special guests, and substantial prizes, including motorcycles or vehicles, underscoring their cultural prominence.[10][3][27] In breeding, Bekisar are produced exclusively as first-generation (F1) hybrids from crossing male green junglefowl (Gallus varius) with female domestic chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus), a practice rooted in traditional Indonesian methods. Natural mating, where birds are raised together from chick stage, or artificial insemination are common techniques, though the latter requires specialized skills. The resulting males are rarely fertile, though some can occasionally sire further hybrids when backcrossed to domestic hens; however, this does not reliably perpetuate the breed's distinctive traits, as subsequent generations (F2 and beyond) exhibit reduced fertility and lose the distinctive vocal and morphological characteristics. Females are generally infertile and may be raised for meat. Genetic diversity in plumage color is inherited from the domestic hen, whereas body conformation and crowing quality derive from the junglefowl sire, influencing selective breeding for competition standards.[2][3]In literature and popular culture
The bekisar features prominently in Indonesian literature as a symbol of hybridity, beauty, and social aspiration. In Ahmad Tohari's 2011 novel Bekisar Merah (translated as The Red Bekisar in 2015), the titular red bekisar—a hybrid between wild junglefowl and domestic chicken—serves as a metonym for the protagonist Lasi, a half-Japanese, half-Javanese woman navigating rural poverty and urban exploitation in 1960s Indonesia. The bird, prized by the wealthy for its ornamental value and distinctive crow, mirrors Lasi's exotic allure and marginalized status, highlighting themes of racial mixture, gender inequality, and the clash between traditional village life and modern corruption.[28] The narrative follows Lasi's migration from a Central Java village to Jakarta, where she faces seduction, betrayal, and political intrigue, ultimately finding resolution in familial bonds, with the bekisar underscoring the cultural premium placed on rarity and hybrid vigor.[29] In popular culture, the bekisar holds emblematic status as the faunal symbol of East Java Province, representing regional pride in Indonesia's biodiversity and breeding traditions. Developed from crosses between green junglefowl (Gallus varius) and local chickens in areas like Kangean Island, it embodies courage, beauty, and melodic crowing, often celebrated in local festivals and competitions.[10] The bird appears frequently in Javanese and Madurese batik motifs, where it is depicted alongside floral patterns to signify prosperity and cultural heritage; for instance, ayam bekisar designs are common in Madura batik, portraying the rooster's iridescent plumage as a nod to wild-domestic harmony.[30] This artistic representation extends its role beyond utility, embedding the bekisar in everyday Indonesian visual culture as a marker of East Javanese identity.[31]References
- https://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Gallus_temminckii