Lady Amherst's pheasant

Lady Amherst's pheasant (Chrysolophus amherstiae) is a bird of the order Galliformes and the family Phasianidae. The genus name is from Ancient Greek khrusolophos, "with golden crest". The English name and amherstiae commemorates Sarah Amherst, who was responsible for sending the first specimen of the bird to London in 1828.[2] Lady Amherst's pheasant is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Lady Amherst's pheasant
Male at Parc Paradisio, Hainaut, Belgium
Female
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Galliformes
Family: Phasianidae
Genus: Chrysolophus
Species:
C. amherstiae
Binomial name
Chrysolophus amherstiae
Lady Amherst's Pheasant Chrysolophus amherstiae, range map

Distribution and habitat

The species is native to southwestern China and far northern Myanmar, but has been introduced elsewhere. Previously, a self-supporting feral population was established in England, the stronghold of which was in West Bedfordshire. Lady Amherst first introduced the ornamental pheasant on her estates, near the Duke of Bedford's Woburn Abbey, where the birds were also shot for game and interbred.[3] However, since late 2015, it has been believed to be eradicated in Great Britain, with no confirmed sightings since March 2015.

Description

The adult male is 100–120 cm (40-48 in.) in length, its tail accounting for 80 cm (31 in) of the total length. It is unmistakable with its nuchal cape white black, with a red crest. The long grey tail and rump is red, blue, dark green, white and yellow plumage. The "cape" can be raised in display. This species is closely related to the golden pheasant (C. pictus), but has a yellow eye, blue-green bare skin around it. The bill is horn-coloured and they had blue-gray legs.[4]

The female is much less showy, with a duller mottled brown plumage all over, similar to that of the female common pheasant (P. colchicus) but with finer barring. She is very like the female golden pheasant, but has a darker head and cleaner underparts than the hen of that species.

Despite the male's showy appearance, these birds are very difficult to see in their natural habitat, which is dense, dark forests with thick undergrowth. Consequently, little is known of their behaviour in the wild.

Diet and behaviour

They feed on the ground on grain, leaves 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. The male has a gruff call in the breeding season.

  • Male
  • Male
  • back view
  • side view
  • "Eclipse" (Lady Amherst's-golden cross). In a pure Lady Amherst's pheasant, the red crest would begin well back on the head, not at the beak, and the belly would have no red.
  • Male, possibly of hybrid origin (see left)

References
  1. BirdLife International (2012). "Chrysolophus amherstiae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  2. Jobling, James A (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. pp. 45, 105. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
  3. Fitter, p.86
  4. Fitter, p.86
Bibliography
  • Briggs, M.; Briggs, P. (2009). The Natural History of the British Isles. Bath, UK.
  • Fitter, R.S.R. (1955) [1952]. The Pocket Guide of British Birds. London: Collins.
  • Peter Scott (1969). Book of British Birds. London.
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