- Lifespan
- 8–15 years in captivity; wild lifespan unknown in UK populations
- Size & Weight
- 64–81 cm (males larger than females); males 350–450 g, females 280–350 g
- Habitat
- Dense woodland with thick undergrowth, particularly coniferous and mixed forests with good ground cover.
- UK Distribution
- Feral populations established in small numbers in southern England, particularly around the Cotswolds and parts of Wales; derived from escaped or released captive birds. Not native; no migratory pattern.
- Diet
- Seeds, berries, insects, and invertebrates, supplemented by leaves and shoots; forages primarily on the ground.
- Predators
- Foxes, stoats, weasels, corvids (particularly magpies and jays), and birds of prey including goshawks and sparrowhawks.
- Mating Season
- March to June
- Breeding
- Clutch size 8–12 eggs; incubation period 22–23 days; single brood per season. Males are highly territorial and polygynous.
- Behaviour
- Males are highly territorial and display elaborate plumage with dramatic posturing. Ground-dwelling and wary, preferring to run rather than fly when threatened. Largely crepuscular, most active at dawn and dusk.