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Taxonomy:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Family: Phaianidae
Order: Galliformes
Genus: Chrysolophus
Species:C. Pictus
Duration of existence:The earliest fossil records of phasianids date to the late Oligocene epoch, about 30 million years ago.
All Subspecies: No subspecies
Closest living relative to this species:
Partridges
Turkey
Turkey
Grouse
3 ancestors of this species:
P.versicolor 2. Elegans 3. Mongolicus
Physical Description and Point key characteristics :
Tail
Tail
Male has long tail . Males attain a length of as much as 41 in (105 cm). The showy tail accounts roughly two-thirds of this length.
Feet/ Legs
Feet/ Legs
Both the male and female of this amazing species possess yellow bills and legs. The short hindtoe is typycal of ground-dwelling bird. The legs are long and slender, those of male bearing small spurs for use in fighting.
Cape
Cape
Broad, spuare-tipped feathers comprise a distinctive cape, which is fanned in display.
Size: 26-44 inches
Weight: 350-700g
Life Span: In the wild 5-6 years but with good care 15 years.
Differences between Male and Female: the male is very brightly coloured with a yellow crown and lower back, dark wings and upper neck, red underparts and long finely barred tail. The female is paler brown than a female pheasant. It is a shy bird, keeping to dark, dense woodland. Roosts in trees at night.
Description of the Habitat
How much rainfall: 300 to 900 millimeters (12 to 35 inches) of rain per year can be expected in dense conifer forests.
Temperature: golden pheasants are hardy and they prefer both climates, hot and cold.
Terrain: They prefer dense conifer forests in mountainous regions but can also be found in mixed forests with thick shrubs.
Plants: shoots of rhododendron and bamboo
Animals: golden pheasants are mostly prey for foxes and wild cats.
Distribution
Continents found: they are native to China but we can find them anywhere around the world.
Invasive at all: golden pheasants are not invasive but foxes and wild cats are invasive to them.
Diet
What exactly does it eat: berries, grubs, seeds and other types of vegetation
How often does it eat: they usually eat most of the time during the day but they can be hungry till 3 days.
How does it get its food: they are searching for food and eating plants, seeds and fruits they are not hunting anything.
Any special foods: insects and spiders
Social Structure
Live in packs or solo: golden pheasants are generally solitary birds. Outside of breeding season, they prefer to stay single.
Roles within the community: golden pheasants are food for other animals.
Male or Female led groups: neither female or male
Individuals that make up the group: In the autumn, they flock together, sometimes in large groups in areas with food and cover.
How do they interact with each other: interactions between competing males may include flying at each other breast-to-breast, biting wattles, or high leaps with kicks toward the other's bill.
Reproduction
How often do they mate: once a year
How many mates do they have: multiple mates
Time of year for mating: April
Mating rituals: The male, with its colorful plumage and long tail, dances for the female. He will usually expand his neck feathers out across his beak, revealing an elaborate striping pattern of alternating colors.
Number of offspring produced at a time: 8-12 eggs golden pheasant lay at a time.
Any unique characteristics of their mating: golden pheasants are dancing and showing their neck’s colorful feathers to attract the female.
Development
Stages of development: golden pheasant has 2 stages, egg and chicks.
How old before sexual maturity: Male golden pheasants aren't sexually mature until two years of age, but the females mature from one year.
Activities and environment of stages: 2 stages, nest and outside the nest when they become adults.
Difference between males and females: males are difficult to spot. Female pheasant’s are not aggressive as male pheasants are; however, they’ve still been known to pick on weaker birds. Pheasant hens are rather quiet. Making a sort of peeping noise that sounds a lot like a little chick.
Causes of death
Predation: Wild cats, foxes, humans.
Sexual Competition: males will fight each other to death while competing for the ability to mate.
Disease: coccidiosis and blackhead.
Other causes: weather cannot affect the golden pheasants because they are hardy but at the childhood age they may die because of getting the wrong type of feed, they eat too much, or too little.
Competition
Inter-species – within the species: They will fight each other to defend their homes.
Intra-species – with other species: Rodents and birds will eat their eggs given the chance.
What do they compete over: Shelter, food.
Effect of invasive species: it is invasive In Hawaii and UK, however there are no known impacts currently.
IUCN Rating
What is the rating? Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Population: the population is unknown
Population Trend: Population going down
Impact of Humans
What impacts have occurred: habitat lost, hunted for food, and capture for caged birds traded by humans.
Potential Future impacts: climate change can change their range
How long have humans been interacting with species: several centuries
Efforts being made to minimize impacts: no hunting, help with habitat loss, stope putting them in the cage.
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