Chrysolophus
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Chrysolophus is a genus of the
pheasant family of
birds.
It contains two east
Asian species, the
Golden Pheasant (
Chrysolophus pictus) and the
Lady Amherst Pheasant,
C. amherstiae
These are species which have spectacularly plumaged males. Golden Pheasant is native to western
China, and Lady Amherst to
Tibet and westernmost
China, but both have been widely introduced elsewhere.
In places where self-supporting feral populations have become established, such as
England, the two species will interbreed to produce hybrids.
Despite the male's showy appearance, these birds are very difficult to see in their natural habitat, which is dense, dark young
conifer forests with sparse undergrowth. Consequently, little is known of their behaviour in the wild.
They feed on the ground on grain, leaves and
invertebrates, but roost in trees at night. Whilst they can fly, they prefer to run: but if startled they can suddenly burst upwards at great speed, with a distinctive wing sound.
