leghorn

Single-comb White Leghorn cock.

leghorn, breed of chicken that originated in Italy and the only Mediterranean breed of importance today. Of the 12 varieties, the single-comb White Leghorn is more popular than all the other leghorns combined; the leading egg producer of the world, it lays white eggs and is kept in large numbers in England, Canada, Australia, and the United States.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Robert Curley.
Citation Information
Article Title: leghorn
Website Name: Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published: 23 April 2013
Access Date: March 14, 2025