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Copper Pheasant - BirdForum Opus

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Male of (sub)species scintillans ("Scintillant Pheasant"). Photo by Rob Hutchinson
Kuruizawa, Japan, January 2009
Syrmaticus soemmerringii

Identification

136cm
Male

  • Copper-chestnut body and tail
  • Copper-red head and neck
  • Paler underparts
  • Red wattles on face near the eyes
  • Long tail
  • Grey legs with short spur
  • Yellow bill
  • Brown iris
Female "Scintillant Pheasant". Photo by petitebouquet
Gifu Pref, Japan, January 2007

Female

  • Greyish-brown upperparts
  • Buff underparts (marked with dark brown bars)
  • No spurs

Distribution

Japan: Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu

Taxonomy

Subspecies are relatively distinct and may be elevated to species. For example, "Scintillant Pheasant" (Syrmaticus scintillans), "Copper Pheasant" (Syrmaticus soemmerringii), "White-rumped Pheasant" (Syrmaticus ijimae: see below).

Subspecies

There are 5 subspecies [1]

  • S. s. scintillans: "Scintillant Pheasant". Japan (coniferous forests of northern and central Honshu)
  • S. s. intermedius: "Scintillant Pheasant". Japan (coniferous forests of south-western Honshu and Shikoku)
  • S. s. subrufus: "Scintillant Pheasant". Japan (coniferous forests of southern Honshu and south-western Shikoku)
  • S. s. soemmerringii: "Copper Pheasant". Japan (coniferous forests of northern and central Kyushu)
  • S. s. ijimae: "White-rumped Pheasant". Japan (coniferous forests of south-eastern Kyushu)

Habitat

Coniferous forests upto 1800m.

Behaviour

Breeding

The 6-12 eggs are laid in a ground nest and are incubated for 24-25 days.

Diet

The diet includes seeds, insects, earthworms, and acorns.

References

  1. Clements, JF. 2010. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2010. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/Clements%206.5.xls/view
  2. www.gbwf.org
  3. Wikipedia
  4. ARKive

Recommended Citation

External Links

GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1

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