Golden Pheasant

Chrysolophus pictus

The Golden Pheasant is a colorful bird known for its bright yellow and red feathers. It loves to roam in the forest and is a beautiful sight to see when it spreads its tail.

Habitat: Forests

Appearance

The Golden Pheasant is famous for the male's spectacular plumage, featuring a bright golden crest, a scarlet-red body, and a striking blue-green scalloped cape. Its vibrant colours make it instantly recognizable and distinct from other birds.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderGalliformesFamilyPhasianidaeGenusChrysolophus

Photo: JmhullotCC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsView original ↗

Golden Pheasant

Interesting facts

A female Golden Pheasant can lay up to a dozen eggs in one nest!

Male Golden Pheasants are sometimes called "living rainbows" due to their incredible array of colours!

These pheasants sleep high in trees to stay safe from predators at night.

They don't sing songs; instead, they make sharp "chack-chack" calls.

Special abilities

Golden Pheasants can disappear quickly into dense undergrowth because their patterned plumage provides excellent camouflage.

Golden Pheasants have strong legs that help them run swiftly through forests to escape predators or forage for food.

Golden Pheasants can attract mates by fanning out their vibrant cape and tail feathers during an elaborate courtship dance.

Measurements & details

Length: 60-105 cm
Wingspan: 65-75 cm
Weight: 0.45-0.85 kg
Lifespan: 5-10 years
Speed: 60 km/h
Clutch Size: 8-12
Incubation: 22-23 days

Diet & Feeding

These colourful birds are omnivores, munching on seeds, berries, leaves, and tiny insects found on the forest floor.

Primary Foods

seeds
berries
leaves
grains
shoots
small insects

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

Eaten by

Goshawk

Accipiter gentilis

Goshawks are aerial predators of pheasants in their range.

Eaten by

Red Fox

Vulpes vulpes

Red foxes often prey on ground-dwelling pheasants.

Eats

Sawtooth Oak

Quercus acutissima

Pheasants forage for acorns from oak trees.

Eats

Wood Ant

Formica rufa

Golden Pheasants eat these ants and their larvae.

Traits

Feathered

Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers.

Crested

Crested describes animals possessing a prominent tuft of feathers, hair, or skin on their head.

Social

Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.

Omnivorous

This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter.

Colorful

Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.

Forest

Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.

Diurnal

Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.

Speedster

This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel.

Also known as

Rainbow Pheasant

Collections

Birds

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always watch birds from a distance and don't try to catch them.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Golden Pheasant?

Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

How long is Golden Pheasant?

60-105 cm

What is Golden Pheasant's wingspan?

65-75 cm

How much does Golden Pheasant weigh?

0.45-0.85 kg

How long does Golden Pheasant live?

5-10 years

How fast can Golden Pheasant move?

60 km/h

What does Golden Pheasant eat?

These colourful birds are omnivores, munching on seeds, berries, leaves, and tiny insects found on the forest floor.