Golden Pheasant

     The Golden Pheasant, also known as the Chinese Pheasant, is one of the most popular species of Pheasants native to the mountainous forests of Western and Central China. There are also feral populations of this bird which have been established in in Europe, Australia and America.

     The male Golden pheasant is unmistakable with its golden crest and rump, and bright red body. He has dark colored wings and a pale brown, long, barred tail. The face, throat and chin are of a rusty color and the beak, legs and feet are yellow. The female Golden pheasant is less colorful and duller than the male. She has a mottled brown plumage, pale brown face, throat, breast and sides, and she is slenderer in appearance.

     The Golden pheasant along with the Lady Amherst’s Pheasant make up the group ‘Ruffed Pheasants’. Ruffed pheasants got named for their ruff which is spread across their face and neck during courtship display. The Golden pheasant is not only a spectacular bird, but also available in different colors (mutations). Which first appeared and became known between birds in captivity. These mutations have a large array of colors including; the dark-throated, yellow, cinnamon, salmon, peach, splash, mahogany and silver. In aviculture, the wild type is referred to as “Red Golden” to differentiate it from these mutations.

     The female Golden pheasant lays a clutch of 8 – 12 eggs in April and incubates them for 22 – 23 days. The chicks fledge after 12 – 14 days and start to make short flights. And male birds acquire their bright colors during their second year of life. However, Golden pheasants are early-maturing birds, as they start to breed in their first year.