Scientific name for the pure species: Chrysolophus pictus
Order: Galliformes
Family: Phasianidae

Also called Chinese Pheasant

The bird in this photo is probably a male mutation which has been commonly termed a Yellow Golden Pheasant, Chrysolophus pictus mut. luteus.

This mutation has been reported to have its origins in Italy when the late Professor Alessandro Ghigi was presented with one male in 1952. Initial breedings were with a normal hen and normal heterozygous chicks were produced. The heterozygous females were then bred back to the mutant male. By the middle of the 1950s, the yellow mutants were breeding true.

The Golden Pheasant is a gamebird native to forests in mountainous areas of western China, but feral populations have been established in the United Kingdom and elsewhere.

They feed on the ground on grain, leaves, berries, grubs, seeds 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. Although they can fly in short bursts they are quite clumsy in flight and spend most of their time on the ground.

Click for more information on this species at Wikipedia
Press the back button on the browser to return to this page

Click for map of bird's location
Press the back button on the browser to return to this page