Birds · Galliformes · Phasianidae

Golden Pheasant

Chrysolophus pictus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The golden pheasant is endemic to the mountains of central China and one of the most widely kept ornamental pheasants in the world. The male is spectacular: a golden crest, an orange-and-black cape that he can fan out, a green back and a scarlet belly, with a very long tail that can be twice the length of the body. Despite its colouring, in the bamboo thickets where it lives it is surprisingly hard to see.

Weight

525 g – 725 g

Size

60 cm – 1.1 m

Lifespan

15 years

Diet

Herbivore

Feeds mainly on plants.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

Temperate forestMountainHerbivore Omnivore Diurnal Bird Temperate forest Mountain

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Fun facts

Its orange-and-black cape can be spread: the male opens it like a sideways fan that covers half his face during courtship, showing the female only one eye as he positions himself beside her.
Despite plumage that seems impossible to conceal, it is extremely elusive in the wild: it lives in dense bamboo and would rather run crouched than fly.
It has been bred in captivity in the West since the 18th century and there are feral populations in the United Kingdom, though always small and in decline.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Montane forest with bamboo understorey and dense scrub in central China
Sexual maturity: 12 months
Gestation / incubation: 22 days
Litter / clutch size: 10

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysolophus_pictus