Red Golden Pheasant
Scientific Classification
Red Golden Pheasants are medium-sized, ground-dwelling birds with spectacular plumage, especially in males. Males have vivid golden-yellow crests that extends down the back of their necks, bright red breasts and bellies, iridescent green and blue upper backs, and long, finely patterned tails. Their ruff-like orange capes can be fanned out during courtship displays. Females are more cryptically colored, with mottled brown and buff plumage that helps them blend into the forest floor. Males measure 90–105 cm in length, including their long tail, while females are smaller, around 60–70 cm long. Males typically weigh 1.1–1.4 kg, and females slightly less.
They are not native to North America. They are originally from temperate mountainous forests and bamboo thickets in China but have been introduced to other countries as ornamental or game birds. In Canada, they are not established in the wild but are occasionally seen in captivity or reported as escapes from aviaries and game bird collections. In Nova Scotia, sightings are rare but possible near rural estates, private zoos, or farms. In the wild, they prefer dense underbrush, forest edges, and scrubby slopes that offer cover and access to low vegetation for feeding and nesting.
They are omnivorous and in the wild and in captivity, their diet includes seeds, berries, leaves, and insects, especially ants and beetles. They forage primarily on the ground, scratching at leaf litter with their feet. In captivity, they are fed specialized game bird feed, along with fresh greens, fruits, grains, and live or dried insects for protein. Seasonal variation in their wild diet reflects availability, with more insects eaten during the breeding season.
They breed in the spring and early summer, with males performing elaborate courtship displays that include wing-shivering, tail-fanning, and spreading their cape-like ruff. After mating, females lay 8–12 eggs in simple ground nests and incubate them alone for about 22–23 days. Chicks are precocial and leave the nest shortly after hatching, feeding independently while the mothers provide protection. Chicks reach full adult plumage by their first year, and both sexes become sexually mature at 1–2 years. In the wild within their native range, their lifespan is estimated at 5–6 years, while in captivity with good care, they often live 10–15 years.
Red Golden Pheasants are adapted for a terrestrial, forest-dwelling lifestyle. Their short, rounded wings allow for quick, explosive bursts of flight to escape predators, though they prefer to run when alarmed. Their cryptic females and flashy males are a classic example of sexual dimorphism. Males use their ornate plumage and bright colouration to attract mates, while females are camouflaged to protect themselves and their eggs during nesting. Their strong legs and feet make them efficient ground foragers. In captivity and temperate climates like Canada’s, they adapt well to aviaries with sheltered enclosures, provided they are protected from extreme cold and predators.
