Golden Pheasant

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The Golden or Chinese Pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus) is a rather interesting looking bird belonging to the Galliformes order and found natively in China. There are also feral populations in England and elsewhere.

To be perfectly honest, I chose this bird because of its absolutely spectacular looks. The males are simply gorgeous birds, with red, blues, greens, golds found throughout their color palette. The females are quite less stunning; they are a dull brown color which aids in camouflage. Even though the males are quite flashy, they live in very dense habitats and are not easily seen.

Golden Pheasants are omnivores, feeding on invertebrates, berries, grains, and other forms of vegetation. They are able to fly, but are  a bit clumsy, and are typically found on the ground.

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Golden Pheasants interbreed with Lady Amherst Pheasants, (also of the genus Chrysolophus) and many captive individuals are mixed breeds. Captive Goldens are bred for a variety of different colors, including Yellow and Cinnamon Goldens. They intermingle well with birds of other species.