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| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON
NAME: |
golden
pheasant, Chinese pheasant |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Aves |
| ORDER: |
Galliformes |
| FAMILY: |
Phasianidae |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Chrysolophus
(gold crest) pictus (painted) |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
Both
sexes have yellow legs and bill |
| MALE |
Males
have a golden-yellow crest with a light tinge of
red at the tip. The face, throat, chin, and the
sides of neck are rusty tan. The wattles and orbital
skin are yellow; the ruff or cape is light orange;
the upper back is green and the rest of the back
and rump is golden-yellow. Males also have a scarlet
breast and scarlet and light chestnut flanks and
underparts. The tertiaries are blue; the scapulars
are dark red; the central tail feathers are black
spotted with cinnamon, and the tip of the tail is
cinnamon buff. The upper tail coverts are the same
color as the central tail feathers. |
| FEMALE |
The
hen is much duller in coloration than the male.
The female is brown with dark barring and a buff
face and throat. The breast and sides are barred
buff and blackish brown, and the abdomen is plain
buff. |
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| SIZE: |
Mature
males grow larger than females |
| MALE |
Averages
110 cm (44 in.) |
| FEMALE |
Averages
65 cm (26 in.) |
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| DIET: |
Includes
insects, grubs, berries, seeds, and vegetation |
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| INCUBATION: |
22-23 days |
| CLUTCH
SIZE |
8-12
eggs |
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| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
Approximately
1-2 years |
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| HABITAT: |
Inhabits
forests in mountainous regions |
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| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
No
data |
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| STATUS: |
IUCN |
No
data |
| CITES |
No
data |
| USFWS |
No
data |
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| 1. |
Pheasants
are not known for their flying skills. They are
primarily terrestrial birds, spending most of
their time on the forest floors of Asia, though
they are capable of short, fast bursts of flight.
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| 2. |
Field
zoologists have notice that golden pheasants are
susceptible to bleaching if they are exposed to
sun for long amounts of time. The shadowed forests
they live in protect their vibrant colors. |
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| Golden
pheasants are one of the most popular of all pheasant
species kept in captivity because of its beautiful
plumage and hardy nature. In fact, records as early
as 1740 suggest this pheasant was the first species
of pheasant brought to North America. Historians
say there is evidence that even George Washington
may have kept them at Mt. Vernon! However, this
animal's natural history is not well known. |
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|
|
Delacour,
J. 1977. The Pheasants of the World. 2nd ed.
World Pheasant Association and Spur Publications,
Hindhead, U.K.
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Gotch,
A.F. Birds - Their Latin Names Explained.
Poole, Dorst: Blandford Press, 1981.
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| Perrins,
Dr. Christopher M. The Illustrated Encyclopedia
of Birds: The Definitive Reference to Birds of the
World. New York: Prentice Hall Press. 1990. |
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| http://www.gbwf.net/pheasants/golden.html |
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| http://www.senecazoo.org/animals/birds/golden_pheasant.htm |
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| http://www.zoobrno.cz/english/galery/gal_bazant_e.htm |
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