Golden Pheasant

Chrysolophus pictus

A flamboyant forest dweller with a vibrant golden crest and beautiful, bold coloured plumage, turning heads wherever it struts.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Golden Pheasant is a strikingly colourful bird, particularly the male. Males display a golden-yellow crest, bright red body, and long, barred tail. Their wings showcase vibrant blue patches, while the back and rump are metallic green. The eyes are a very pale yellow to white.

Females are much more subdued, with mottled brown plumage and black barring, which provides excellent camouflage. Juveniles resemble females but have shorter tails. Both adult females and juveniles have brown eyes compared to the male’s pale irides.

Size

Length

90cm to 105cm

Wingspan

65cm to 75cm

Weight

500g to 1.7kg

Colours

Male Female

Primary Colour

Red Gold Blue

Secondary Colour

Green Orange Black

Beak Colour

Yellow

Leg Colour

Yellow

Primary Colour (Female)

Brown Buff

Secondary Colour (Female)

Black

Beak Colour (Female)

Brown

Leg Colour (Female)

Yellow

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Golden Pheasant can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Golden Pheasant is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Golden Pheasant is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Golden Pheasant is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Golden Pheasant is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Golden Pheasant is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Golden Pheasant is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Golden Pheasant is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Golden Pheasant is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Golden Pheasant is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Golden Pheasant is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Golden Pheasant is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Native to the mountainous forests of central and southern China, Golden Pheasants prefer dense undergrowth in deciduous and mixed woodlands. They thrive in areas with bamboo thickets and dense vegetation cover.

Introduced populations exist in several countries, including the UK, where they are found in scattered woodland areas, particularly in southern and eastern England, located mainly within the pine forests of Suffolk and Norfolk in the east of England. They are also present in small numbers in parts of North America and continental Europe.

Elevation Range

Up to 2,000 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subtropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Golden Pheasant. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons