Colorful Pheasant

Colorful Pheasant

　　The pheasant is a species in the genus Phasianus of the family Phasianidae under the order Galliformes. Also known as wild chicken, mountain chicken, pheasant, ring-necked pheasant, or collar pheasant. In China, it is distributed throughout the country except for most of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and Hainan Province.

The Machiyang’ao colorful pheasant has a body length of 900–1000 mm (including tail feathers). The male has splendid plumage. Its head is bronze-colored, with white eyebrow stripes on both sides. The chin, throat, and hind neck are all black with a metallic sheen. There is a prominent white ring around the neck, hence the name “ring-necked pheasant.” The back is initially golden yellow, transitioning to chestnut-red, then to olive green, all with mottled patterns. The tail feathers are very long, mainly yellowish-brown, crisscrossed with a series of black spots. The chest is a metallic purplish-copper red, with anchor-shaped black spots at the feather tips; the rest of the underparts are also largely mottled. The feet have spurs. The female is smaller with a shorter tail, and its body feathers are mostly sandy brown, with the back covered in chestnut and black spots. The tail has black spots accented with black, and it lacks spurs.

Pheasants usually inhabit hillsides covered with grass and trees, migrating to fields during severe winters to feed on insects, plant seeds, berries, and grains. They have strong legs and are good runners, but their wings are short, preventing them from flying high or for long periods. Their call is monotonous and low-pitched. During the breeding season, they build nests casually among the grass on hillsides, lining ground depressions with dry grass and fallen leaves. Each clutch contains 6–14 eggs, and they typically hatch two broods per year.

The meat of the colorful pheasant is delicious, with a sweet and savory broth. Its flesh contains a variety of trace elements needed by the human body, making it a premium choice among game meats. Its feathers can be used for decoration, serving either as pheasant plumes on the helmets of opera performers or as materials for animal specimens or ornaments.