Koklass Pheasant

     The Koklass Pheasant is a Pheasant species that has a wide range across Asia, from Afghanistan to China. This bird’s range isn’t continuous and in some cases the subspecies (which are nine) are separated by quite a distance.

     The male Koklass pheasant’s plumage is mainly black with each feather surrounded by a very pale (almost white) border. The breast and the belly are a deep shade of dark chestnut. While the head is black with a pale brown patch on the crown and white patches under the cheeks, and the legs are grey. The Koklass hen has lanceolate shaped feathers but like other hens she lacks the bright coloring and is more brownish. She is still nicely marked with a smaller crest.

     Female Koklass pheasants start laying in April when they are 10 or 11 months old. The clutch size can be from 4 – 9 eggs and the hen incubates the eggs for 26 days. And both parents take part in rearing the chicks.