Reeves's Pheasant
Syrmaticus reevesii
A large terrestrial bird of hill forests. Male has very long black-and-white tail and is strikingly patterned: appears crafted out of black-edged gold and white porcelain scales. Female has peach belly and dark comma-like stripe behind the eye. Courting male makes a series of sputtering, bubbling, chirping, and squeaking notes, as well as loud and resonant wing-drumming. Contact and alarm calls are similarly sputtering, varying in loudness.
Identification
Males measure 210 cm (83 in) long and weigh 1,529 g (3.371 lb). The male is brightly plumaged with a scaled golden white and red body plumage, grey legs, brown iris and bare red skin around the eye. The head is white with a black narrow band across its eyes. The male has an extremely long silvery white tail barred with chestnut brown. This pheasant is mentioned in the 2008 edition of Guinness World Records for having the longest natural tail feather of any bird species; a record formerly held by the crested argus pheasant. The tail can measure up to 2.4 m (7.9 ft) long.<p>Females measure 75 cm (30 in) long and weigh 949 g (2.092 lb). They are brown with a blackish crown, a buff face and greyish brown barred tail feathers. The females are about the same size as a male common pheasant.<p>There are no known subspecies, but there is some variation in plumage.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Syrmaticus reevesii
- Authority
- (Gray, JE, 1829)
- Order
- Galliformes
- Family
- Phasianidae
- Genus
- Syrmaticus
Range and habitat
The Reeves's pheasant is endemic to the temperate evergreen and deciduous forests of central and eastern China. Where introduced, they also inhabit farmland close to woodlands. The tail of the male bird grows approximately 30 cm (12 in) every year.<p>They have been introduced for sport and ornamental purposes to the United States, Czech Republic, France and the United Kingdom. In the latter three countries, they have built up small breeding populations, and are still released on a small scale for shooting, often alongside common pheasants.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The Reeves's pheasant is a hardy bird and is able to tolerate both hot and cold weather. They prefer higher ground for nesting. The female lays a clutch of 7–14 eggs in April or May; the incubation period is 24–25 days. Reeves's pheasants are often aggressive towards humans, animals, and other pheasants, particularly during the breeding season.<p>Their call is unlike other game birds in that it is a musical warble, sounding more passerine than a galliform bird. Their diet is vegetable matter, including seeds and cereals. They are fairly common in aviculture.
Conservation
Due to ongoing habitat loss, and overhunting for food and its tail plumes, the Reeves's pheasant is evaluated as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. There are thought to be only around 2000 birds remaining in the wild.The species is included in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) meaning international export/import (including in parts and derivatives such as feathers) requires CITES documentation to be obtained and presented to border authorities.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Blue-bellied Parrot
Triclaria malachitacea
Fairly large parrot with a long tail and a pale bill. Mostly green with a blue tail tip and bluish underwings. Males have a large blue belly patch. Usually seen in small groups or pairs in the canopy of humid forests. The call, unlike most parrots, is a series of thrushlike whistles.
White Wagtail
Motacilla alba
Distinctive but variable: all plumages are some bold combination of black, white, and gray. Shows considerable variation in plumage across the world, but never has a clear, thin and contrasting eye-brow like White-browed or Japanese Wagtail. Occurs in varied open habitats, from wild grassy areas and wetlands to paved car parks and grassy lawns. Usually seen as singles, pairs, or small groups walking and running around, pumping the long, white-sided tail up and down. Identified easily in flight by its loud, thick and distinctive “tsee-tsee’ call.
Blackish Oystercatcher
Haematopus ater
Distinctive large chunky shorebird of rocky coasts, adjacent sandy beaches and river mouths. The only all-dark oystercatcher in South America, readily identified by wholly dark plumage, long orange-red bill, thick pinkish legs. Found as singles and pairs, less often small flocks (mainly when roosting), and associates readily with Magellanic and especially American Oystercatchers. Loud piping whistles sound similar to American Oystercatcher.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.