Golden Pheasants – Graceful and Glamorous OrRainbow-colored winged Golden Pheasant By Saba Amir Gondal

Native to the mountains of China, Golden Pheasants are fabulously beautiful creations of

Allah that are so well adapted to living in captivity they have become popular pets in many

countries far from their original habitat.

Pheasant is a bird that is closely related to wild chickens, quails and partridges. There are 35

species of pheasant that originate from Asia.

Habitat:

These birds are widely distributed in Asia, Europe and North America today. Pheasants

inhabit forests, scrublands, swamps, grasslands and areas near the farms. They are popular

game birds that are consumed as delicacy in various parts of the world. Other factor which

negatively affects population of wild pheasants is habitat destruction. Even though number

of pheasant decreases continuously in the wild, they are not on the list of endangered

species.

Interesting Pheasant Facts:

Pheasants can reach 20 to 36 inches in length and 2 to 4 pounds of weight. Males are much

larger than females.

Sophisticated Male Pheasant

Males and females do not look alike. This phenomenon is known as dimorphism. Males are

brightly colored and covered with golden, brown, green, purple and white feathers. Head is

red and equipped with small crest. Neck is green and have white collar. Females are covered

with brown plumage. Young males are brown in color until the age of 10 weeks when they

become brightly colored.

Stretched Protracted Tail

Pheasants have long, strong legs with four toes equipped with sharp claws. Males have long

tails.

Defence Mechanism

Pheasants have excellent eyesight and sense of hearing which are used for detection of

predators.

Great Runner and Swimmer

Pheasants can run at the speed of 8 to 10 miles per hour and fly at the speed of 35 to 45

miles per hour. Pheasants are also able to swim.

Pheasants are omnivores (their diet includes animals and plants). They usually eat seed,

berries, fruit, insects, worms and small reptiles. Pheasants are able to dig one foot through

the snow to find food during the winter.

Predators of Pheasant

Main predators of pheasants are foxes, hawks and owls which hunt young birds and

raccoons and skunks which feed on the eggs.

Famous for Flesh

In China the Golden Pheasant is a great favorite, not only for its splendid plumage and

elegant form, but for the excellence of its flesh, which is said to surpass even that of the

common pheasant. It has been introduced into Europe, but is fitted only for the aviary.

Remain in Hiding

Despite the male’s showy appearance, these hardy birds are very difficult to see in their

natural habitat, which is dense, dark young conifer forests with sparse undergrowth.

Consequently, little is known of their behavior in the wild.

Roost at Night

Pheasants are not migratory birds. They stay in their roosts during the cold weather.

Pheasants are able to survive without food couple of days. However, at night these birds will

always leave the ground and look for trees and nests to sleep in, at a safe distance from any

lurking predators.

Maintain Homeostasis

During the summer, pheasants breathe rapidly (quickly exhale and inhale) to eliminate

excess body heat and maintain stable body temperature.

Social Bird

Pheasants are gregarious birds that live in small flocks outside the season.

Hen’s can Adopt Chicks!

Hens lay around up to 20 eggs. Mother takes care of the chicks until they learn to fly. That

usually happens two weeks after hatching. Females have several broods per year. They

sometimes even adopt abandoned or lost chickens. Sometimes people get some of thier

eggs and put them under an old hen. By and by little pheasants hatch out, and the hen is

very good to them. She watches over them and feeds them, but they do not wish to stay

with her; they like their wild life. If they are not well fed they will fly away

Expected AgePheasants have low survival rate. 35% of young birds die before they reach the age of 6 to

10 weeks. Only 2-3% birds manage to survive to the age of 3 years.

Expected Age

Pheasants can survive up to 3 years in the wild.