Golden Pheasant

About

The golden pheasant is a colourful bird, known for its striking plumage and exotic appearance. Native to the mountainous forests of western China, it's characterised by a vivid golden-yellow crest, bright red body, and green and blue back and feathers. Males are particularly eye-catching, while females have more subdued brown tones.

Golden pheasants primarily feed on the ground, eating grain, leaves, and invertebrates, though they roost in trees at night. In winter, they often forage near human settlements, mainly consuming wheat leaves and seeds. They prefer running to flying and only take short, clumsy flights — known as "flapping flight" — due to the absence of a deep chest muscle that stabilizes flight in other birds. When threatened, they typically choose to run and hide rather than fly.