Field Guide
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Golden Pheasant
Chrysolophus pictus
Not yet photographed by the community
Introduced from China; male has scarlet and golden plumage.
Species Profile
Not assessed under UK Red List; feral populations are non-native and not a conservation priority.
- 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.
- •Golden Pheasants are native to the mountains of central China and were introduced to the UK as ornamental game birds in the 19th century.
- •Males possess a spectacular golden crest and cape that they raise during territorial and courtship displays.
- •UK feral populations are self-sustaining but remain highly localised and rarely exceed a few hundred individuals.
- •They are notoriously difficult to observe in the wild due to their secretive nature and preference for thick cover.
- •Golden Pheasants can hybridise with Common Pheasants where their ranges overlap, potentially complicating the genetics of wild populations.
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