Lady Amherst's pheasant (Chrysolophus amherstiae) is a bird of the order Galliformes and the family Phasianidae. The genus name is from Ancient Greekkhrusolophos, "with golden crest". The English name and amherstiae commemorates Sarah Amherst, who was responsible for sending the first specimen of the bird to London in 1828.[2] Lady Amherst's pheasant is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The species is native to southwestern China and far northern Myanmar, but has been introduced elsewhere. Previously, a self-supporting feral population was established in England, the stronghold of which was in West Bedfordshire. Lady Amherst first introduced the ornamental pheasant on her estates, near the Duke of Bedford's Woburn Abbey, where the birds were also shot for game and interbred.[3] Although the introduced British populations are believed to have been extinct since 2015, occasional sightings of the species have occurred in subsequent years; a Lady Amherst's pheasant was photographed in Staplegrove, Taunton in May 2020, and subsequently, in early March 2021, a Lady Amherst's pheasant was spotted in a garden in Scotland.[4]
Descriptionedit
The adult male is 100–120 cm (40-48 in.) in length, its tail accounting for 80 cm (31 in) of the total length. It is unmistakable with its nuchal cape which is white black, with a red crest. The long tail is greyish white black bars and red streaks at the base, the chest and belly are white, the throat is scaled green, the back is dark green, the wings are blue and brown, and the rump is yellow. The "cape" can be raised in display. This species is closely related to the golden pheasant (C. pictus), but has a yellow eye, blue-green bare skin around it. The bill is horn-coloured and they have blue-gray legs.[5]
The female is much less showy, with a duller mottled brown plumage all over, similar to that of the female common pheasant (P. colchicus) but with finer barring. She is very like the female golden pheasant, but has a darker head and cleaner underparts than the hen of that species.
Despite the male's showy appearance, these birds are very difficult to see in their natural habitat, which is dense, dark forests with thick undergrowth. Consequently, little is known of their behaviour in the wild.
Diet and behaviouredit
They feed on the ground on grain, leaves and invertebrates, but roost in trees at night. Whilst they can fly, they prefer to run, but if startled they can suddenly burst upwards at great speed, with a distinctive wing sound. The male emits a metallic call in the breeding season.
Galleryedit
Male
Male
back view
side view
Lady Amherst's x golden pheasant cross. In a pure Lady Amherst's pheasant, the red crest starts roughly halfway between the cere to the crest tip (not at the beak), and the belly would be all white without any red or brown tainting.
Hybrid male
Referencesedit
^BirdLife International (2018). "Chrysolophus amherstiae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22679358A131905673. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22679358A131905673.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
^Jobling, James A (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. pp. 45, 105. ISBN978-1-4081-2501-4.
Briggs, M.; Briggs, P. (2009). The Natural History of the British Isles. Bath, UK.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Fitter, R.S.R. (1955) [1952]. The Pocket Guide of British Birds. London: Collins.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Peter Scott (1969). Book of British Birds. London.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
External linksedit
BirdLife Species Factsheet
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chrysolophus amherstiae.
December 01, 2023
lady, amherst, pheasant, chrysolophus, amherstiae, bird, order, galliformes, family, phasianidae, genus, name, from, ancient, greek, khrusolophos, with, golden, crest, english, name, amherstiae, commemorates, sarah, amherst, responsible, sending, first, specim. Lady Amherst s pheasant Chrysolophus amherstiae is a bird of the order Galliformes and the family Phasianidae The genus name is from Ancient Greek khrusolophos with golden crest The English name and amherstiae commemorates Sarah Amherst who was responsible for sending the first specimen of the bird to London in 1828 2 Lady Amherst s pheasant is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Lady Amherst s pheasantMale at Parc Paradisio Hainaut BelgiumFemaleConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AvesOrder GalliformesFamily PhasianidaeGenus ChrysolophusSpecies C amherstiaeBinomial nameChrysolophus amherstiae Leadbeater 1829 Lady Amherst s Pheasant Chrysolophus amherstiae range map Contents 1 Distribution and habitat 2 Description 3 Diet and behaviour 4 Gallery 5 References 6 External linksDistribution and habitat editThe species is native to southwestern China and far northern Myanmar but has been introduced elsewhere Previously a self supporting feral population was established in England the stronghold of which was in West Bedfordshire Lady Amherst first introduced the ornamental pheasant on her estates near the Duke of Bedford s Woburn Abbey where the birds were also shot for game and interbred 3 Although the introduced British populations are believed to have been extinct since 2015 occasional sightings of the species have occurred in subsequent years a Lady Amherst s pheasant was photographed in Staplegrove Taunton in May 2020 and subsequently in early March 2021 a Lady Amherst s pheasant was spotted in a garden in Scotland 4 Description editThe adult male is 100 120 cm 40 48 in in length its tail accounting for 80 cm 31 in of the total length It is unmistakable with its nuchal cape which is white black with a red crest The long tail is greyish white black bars and red streaks at the base the chest and belly are white the throat is scaled green the back is dark green the wings are blue and brown and the rump is yellow The cape can be raised in display This species is closely related to the golden pheasant C pictus but has a yellow eye blue green bare skin around it The bill is horn coloured and they have blue gray legs 5 The female is much less showy with a duller mottled brown plumage all over similar to that of the female common pheasant P colchicus but with finer barring She is very like the female golden pheasant but has a darker head and cleaner underparts than the hen of that species Despite the male s showy appearance these birds are very difficult to see in their natural habitat which is dense dark forests with thick undergrowth Consequently little is known of their behaviour in the wild Diet and behaviour editThey feed on the ground on grain leaves and invertebrates but roost in trees at night Whilst they can fly they prefer to run but if startled they can suddenly burst upwards at great speed with a distinctive wing sound The male emits a metallic call in the breeding season Gallery edit nbsp Male nbsp Male nbsp back view nbsp side view nbsp Lady Amherst s x golden pheasant cross In a pure Lady Amherst s pheasant the red crest starts roughly halfway between the cere to the crest tip not at the beak and the belly would be all white without any red or brown tainting nbsp Hybrid maleReferences edit BirdLife International 2018 Chrysolophus amherstiae IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018 e T22679358A131905673 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2018 2 RLTS T22679358A131905673 en Retrieved 11 November 2021 Jobling James A 2010 The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names London Christopher Helm pp 45 105 ISBN 978 1 4081 2501 4 Fitter p 86 Colorful Bird Thought to be Extinct in the UK Captured on Video Walking About in Scotland MSN Fitter p 86 BibliographyBriggs M Briggs P 2009 The Natural History of the British Isles Bath UK a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Fitter R S R 1955 1952 The Pocket Guide of British Birds London Collins a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Peter Scott 1969 Book of British Birds London a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link External links editBirdLife Species Factsheet nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chrysolophus amherstiae Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lady Amherst 27s pheasant amp oldid 1181554940, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
