Nature Photographers Ltd

Golden Pheasant Chrysolophus pictus L 60-100cm. Male is gaudy and unmistakable; female is superficially similar to female Pheasant but separable on close inspection. Typically secretive. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has mainly red body plumage with golden-yellow crown and barred ‘cape’, yellow rump and blue on wings and back; tail is buffish with intricate dark markings. Adult female is buffish brown with distinct dark barring all over; note contrast between pale brown face and darker crown and nape. Juvenile recalls a small, short-tailed female. Voice Territorial male utters a shrill, disyllabic call. Status Native of China. Introduced and now very locally established; favours dense woodland.