In the dense forests of southwestern China and Southeast Asia, there is a bird that shimmers like flowing brocade among the branches and leaves with an extraordinary luster. It is the Golden Pheasant (Chrysolophus amherstiae), a low-key yet extremely stunning pheasant. With its intricate and dazzling plumage and mysterious jungle life, it has become one of the wonders of nature.
Taxonomy
Animal Kingdom
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Aves
Galliformes
Pheasantidae
genus Chrysolophus
Golden Pheasant (Chrysolophus amherstiae)
Commonly known as bamboo shoot chicken, quilt chicken, copper chicken, wide chicken, flower grove chicken (male), and hemp grove chicken (female), it is a type of medium-sized bird. Including tail feathers, the male can reach 1.2-1.4 meters in length. This species is dioecious and has a wide variety of appearances.
1. Appearance: A dazzling "forest noble"
The appearance of the white-bellied golden pheasant can only be described as a work of art, especially the male, which is covered in a variety of colors in its plumage, each part of which looks like it has been meticulously crafted.
Black and white crest: The head is covered with long feathers with black and white stripes, as if wearing a noble hat.
Metallic green back: The feathers gleam with a deep green sheen under the light.
Its tail, which can reach 80-100 centimeters in length, is one of its most captivating features: white tail feathers adorned with exquisite black patterns.
Bright red belly feathers: The red belly stands out strikingly against a backdrop of cool-toned feathers.
In contrast, the female bird's plumage is much more understated, mainly consisting of brown feathers with stripes. This "camouflage" makes them less likely to be spotted by predators in the forest.
The male has a small patch of metallic green feathers on its head, followed by an orange-red crest; the skin around the eyes is bare and blue; the feathers on the back of the neck, sides of the neck, shoulders, and upper back are white with black edges, arranged in a regular and compact, overlapping pattern, forming a white, armor-like cape; the jaw, throat, cheeks, and foreneck are similar to the metallic green of the head; the feathers on the chest, upper back, shoulders, and wing coverts are also metallic green but slightly lighter in color, with black edges, arranged in the same regular and compact overlapping pattern as the neck feathers; the flight feathers are blue with a metallic sheen; the rump is orange-yellow, the upper tail coverts are slightly longer, and the tips of the feathers are also bright orange-yellow, drooping to the sides of the tail feathers; the tail feathers are very long, with a white base color and broad black horizontal stripes, with irregular, finer black spots between the black stripes, and the edges of the outer tail feathers gradually transition to brown; the entire abdomen is snow-white.
The female is similar to the female Golden Pheasant, but slightly larger. The iris is brown; the beak and feet are bluish-grey.
2. Living Environment: A "Wild Gentleman" Residing in the Mountains
The white-bellied pheasant mainly inhabits the forests of southwestern China (found in southeastern Tibet, central and southwestern Sichuan, western Guizhou, and most of Yunnan), as well as Myanmar, Thailand, and Bhutan. They prefer high-altitude mountain forests (1500-3300 meters), and are most commonly found in dense broad-leaved forests or mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forests.
Although they can adapt to a certain degree of deforestation, they still rely on the protection of dense vegetation, so excessive deforestation may threaten their survival.
3. Behavioral Habits: A Quiet Yet Bold "Hermit"
① Act discreetly, yet unafraid of others.
Unlike other chickens that prefer to flock together, the white-bellied pheasant tends to act alone or in small family groups. Although they are cautious and will quickly flee into the bushes when threatened, in some places, wild white-bellied pheasants are not particularly afraid of humans and sometimes even move around calmly along mountain trails.
② They are good at running, but don't like flying.
Although the golden pheasant is a good flier, it prefers to stay on the ground, using its strong legs to run quickly. It only spreads its wings briefly across the jungle when it encounters a threat or needs to fly over obstacles.
4. Eating Habits: The "All-Round Foodie" of the Forest
The golden pheasant is a herbivorous bird with a very wide diet, making it a veritable "omnivorous glutton" of the forest. Folklore says this species particularly enjoys bamboo shoots, hence its common name, "bamboo shoot pheasant." Their diet includes:
Plant seeds and shoots (primary food source)
Berries, nuts and leaves
Insects and small invertebrates (protein supplement)
They like to forage on the forest floor, using their strong claws to turn over fallen leaves and search for hidden food.
5. Breeding: The male's dazzling courtship dance
The courtship process of the white-bellied pheasant is a visual feast, with the male displaying his magnificent plumage in an attempt to win the heart of the female.
① Show-off performance: Unfurling a magnificent long tail
The male bird spreads its tail feathers in front of the female, displaying a **"fan-shaped crest"**.
With a slight sway, the black and white spots on its tail feathers shimmered in the sunlight.
② Mating and Nest Building
The female bird builds her nest in a secluded spot on the ground and lays 6-12 pale yellow or brown eggs each time.
The incubation period is approximately 22-23 days. During this time, the female bird will take on the task of incubation alone, while the male bird will be responsible for guarding the nest.
Newly hatched chicks grow at an astonishing rate, able to follow their mothers within days and become completely independent within a few months.
6. Preserving the Status Quo: A Challenge from Humanity
Although the white-bellied pheasant is still relatively common in the wild, its survival still faces some threats.
Main threats
Deforestation: Habitat reduction impacts population size.
Illegal capture: Due to its beautiful plumage, the golden pheasant is hunted in some areas as an ornamental bird and even used for artificial breeding.
Habitat fragmentation: When forests are destroyed, wild individuals have difficulty migrating freely, leading to a reduction in gene flow.
Preserve the status quo
Currently, the white-bellied golden pheasant has been listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and is protected to a certain extent. It is also listed as a protected species in parts of China and Southeast Asia.
National Key Protected Species Status in China: Level II Effective Date: 1989
China's Red Data Book of Endangered Animals: Vulnerable (Effective Year: 1996)
7. Fun Facts: Interesting Facts About the White-bellied Pheasant
1. The golden pheasant is a relative of the ring-tailed pheasant!
The white-bellied pheasant is closely related to the more well-known golden pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus). Both have long tail feathers and gorgeous body colors, but the golden pheasant's feathers are more golden, while the white-bellied pheasant is known for its exquisite black and white plumage.
2. Their feathers were once a favorite of European nobility!
In the 18th and 19th centuries, the feathers of the white-bellied pheasant were considered a luxury item by European nobles and the fashion world, and were often used in hats, collars and ornaments.
3. The name of a British duchess is closely related to it!
The scientific name of the white-bellied golden pheasant, "Chrysolophus amherstiae," comes from Lady Sarah Amherst, the wife of the British Governor-General of India in the 19th century and a botanist with a passion for natural history. She brought this bird back to England, causing a great sensation.
4. Their tails are much longer than their bodies!
The tail of an adult male bird can reach 80-100 centimeters, longer than its body, making it a veritable "draped tuxedo of the forest".
Conclusion: Hidden Treasures in the Forest
The golden pheasant is one of nature's wonders, possessing not only stunning beauty but also playing a vital role in the ecosystem. They are seed dispersers in the forest, an essential component of the food chain, and embody humanity's reverence for the beauty of nature.
Hopefully, in the future, we can better protect them, allowing this "flowing brocade" to continue dancing gracefully in the forest, becoming an eternal landscape in nature.
