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How do galliform birds use their feet to find food?

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A peacock stands with its vibrant green and blue tail feathers fully fanned out in display, showing eye-like patterns across the plumage. — Galliform Blue, or Indian, peacock (*Pavo cristatus*) displaying its resplendent feathers.

Many galliform birds use their feet to uncover food by scratching through leaf litter on the ground. This behavior allows them to access a variety of food sources, including insects, worms, and other invertebrates, in addition to their primarily vegetarian diet.1

To facilitate this, galliforms possess short, sturdy claws specifically adapted for scratching the ground.2