Lady Amherst's Pheasant

Lady Amherst's pheasant is a bird of the order Galliformes and the family Phasianidae. The genus name is from Ancient Greek khrusolophos, "with golden crest". The English name and amherstiae commemorates Sarah Amherst, who was responsible for sending the first specimen of the bird to London in 1828. The life span of the Lady Amherst's pheasant is 6 to 10 years in the wild but can survive up to 15 years in captivity. They are predominantly ground dwelling birds, roosting in trees at night, preferring to run rather than fly. The Lady Amherst's pheasant can fly but prefers to run. They spend more time on the ground, looking for food, but roost in the trees at night. The Lady Amherst's Pheasant commemorates Sarah Amherst, the British naturalist and botanist who sent the first specimen to London. The species is native to southwestern China and far northern Myanmar, but has been introduced elsewhere. Previously, a self-supporting feral population was established in England, the stronghold of which was in West Bedfordshire.

Conservation status: Least Concern (Population decreasing)

Mass: 1.6 lbs

Scientific name: Chrysolophus amherstiae

Rank: Species

Higher classification: Chrysolophus

Incubation period: 22-23 days

Family: Phasianidae