Chrysolophus
Cock of the diamond pheasant
The collar pheasant ( Chrysolophus ) are a genus within the family of pheasant -like. There are only two each monotypic species of this genus, both in East Asia and there located mainly in China. The golden pheasant comes in the middle of China prior to western Sichuan, the dissemination of the diamond pheasant ranges from there to Tibet and Myanmar. In the triangle of the Chinese provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou overlaps the occurrence of the two species and come here sometimes hybrids. The close relationship of the two species is also evident that they are very easy to cross in captivity. In the first generation of such hybrids normally both types are capable of reproduction. Both species, including the golden pheasant are often kept in captivity.
Description
It is in two species of the genus are relatively petite, very long-tailed pheasants. The distinctive faucets are among the most colorful pheasants and wear on the sides of the head and neck collar from a typical elongated, very wide springs that can be splayed peltate at Balzhandlungen. The collar springs are almost rectangular, rounded at the Golden Pheasant in diamond pheasant down significantly. In both types they carry broad, dark seams. Unlike other pheasant species, the featherless eye area is not red, slightly spread and bears no erigierbaren cloth. On the top of the head, the long, hard and shiny feathers form a hood, which falls down to the neck. The roof-shaped in cross section and strong stepped tail consists of eight control spring pairs, of which the middle is greatly extended. The diamond pheasant it can reach up to 1.15 meters. The featherless legs are long and slender, the spores are only slightly pronounced. The hens wearing a relatively plain brown plumage, which is quite regularly striated black. The hen of the Gold pheasant, the base color is more yellow-brown, in the diamond pheasant rather reddish brown. In both species the eggs are very large in comparison to body size.
Way of life
Both species live in the subtropical mountainous jungles and forests, the golden pheasant preferably occurs up to 2500 m altitude, the diamond pheasant in higher and some colder locations. However, in the field of the common distribution they also occur in the same habitats. In contrast to the golden pheasant, in the winter squads consist of only up to three birds and often stay for the entire year in which couples, teams formed during diamond pheasant from several families and up to 20 or 30 birds. There are significant differences especially in behavior to other pheasants, and in particular to the genus Phasianus. Both collar pheasants live in Monogynie. The courtship is very characteristic: with stretched legs and tail erected, the head is lowered and presented especially the spread- collar and the colored parts of the back.
Species
- Golden pheasant ( Chrysolophus pictus)
- Diamond pheasant ( Chrysolophus amherstiae )