Golden Pheasant
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The
Golden Pheasant (
Chrysolophus pictus) is a
gamebird of the order
Galliformes (gallinaceous birds) and the family
Phasianidae.
These are native to western
China but have been widely introduced elsewhere, and have established a selfsupporting feral population in
England.
The adult male is 90-105 cm in length, its tail accounting for two-thirds of the total length. It is unmistakable with its golden crest and rump, and bright red body. The deep orange "cape" can be spread in display, appearing as an alternating black and orange fan that covers all of the face except its bright yellow eye, with a pinpoint black pupil.
The female (hen) is much less showy, with a duller mottled brown plumage all over, similar to that of the female
Common Pheasant. She is darker and more slender than the hen of that species, with a proportionately longer tail (half her 60-80 cm length).
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.
The male has a metallic call in the breeding season.
Golden Pheasant is often seen in captivity, but often as impure specimens that have, at one point in the lineage, been crossed with the similar
Lady Amherst Pheasant. The picture at right shows subtle signs of a hybrid in the dark face, and in the yellow extending into what should be a pure dark red flank (where in the Amherst, the white flank would meet the green breast feathers in this area).
