A new species, Palaeortyx volans n. sp., of Phasianidae (Aves: Galliformes) is described from the Neogene vertebrate assemblage of the Gargano (Italy). The Gargano fossil vertebrate association has been well known since 1971, and it is considered to be an island fauna because of the high degree of endemism shown by different taxa. The original description of the fossil avifauna of Gargano referred all the phasianid specimens to Palaeortyx grivensis, a fossil species described form the Miocene (MN7+8) of La Grive-Saint-Alban (France). The present study reveals the differences between Palaeortyx volans n. sp. and the other species of Palaeortyx described until now. The new species described herein represents the smallest species of the genus known, except for P. joleaudi from La Grive-Saint-Alban. The systematic position of P. grivensis from La Grive-Saint-Alban is supported. Morphometric analysis of the fossil remains of P. volans n. sp. suggests good flying capabilities and an ecology similar to that of the recent Coturnix coturnix. These features allowed P. volans n. sp. to colonize isolated islands such as Gargano, which are normally not inhabited by short-distance flyers like the phasianids.