Pheasants

Ringnecked Pheasant
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Galliformes
Family†:Phasianidae
Genera
Ithaginis
Catreus
Rheinartia
Crossoptilon
Lophura
Argusianus
Pucrasia
Syrmaticus
Chrysolophus
Phasianus
† See also partridge, quail

Pheasants are a group of large gamebirds from the order Galliformes.

They are characterised by strong sexual dimorphism, with the males being highly ornate with bright colours and adornments such as wattles and long tails. They are usually larger than the females. Males play no part in rearing the young.

There are 35 species in 11 different genera. The most common is the Ringnecked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus torquatus) which is widespread throughout the world in the wild and in farm operations. Various other species are popular hobby animals such as the Golden Pheasant (C. pictus).

  • Blood Pheasant (genus Ithaginis)
    • Blood Pheasant (I. cruentus)

  • Cheer (genus Catreus)
    • Cheer Pheasant (C. wallichi)

  • Crested Argus (genus Rheinartia)
    • Crested Argus Pheasant(Rheinartia ocellata)

  • Eared Pheasants (genus Crossoptilon)
  • Gallopheasants (genus Lophura)
    • Kalij Pheasant (L. leucomelana)
    • Silver Pheasant (L. nycthemera)
    • Imperial Pheasant (L. imperialis)
    • Edward's Pheasant (L. edwardsi)
    • Swinhoe Pheasant (L. swinhoii)
    • Salvadori's Pheasant (L. inornata)
    • Crestless Fireback Pheasant (L. erythropthalma)
    • Crested Fireback Pheasant (L. ignita)
    • Siamese Fireback (L. diardi)
    • Bulwer's Wattled Pheasant (L. bulweri)

  • Great Argus (genus Argusianus)
    • Great Argus Pheasant (Argusianus argus)

  • Koklass (genus Pucrasia)
    • Koklass Pheasant (P. macrolopha)

  • Long-tailed Pheasants (genus Syrmaticus)
    • Reeve's Pheasant (S. reevesi)
    • Elliot's Pheasant (S. ellioti)
    • Bar-tailed Pheasant (S. humiae)
    • Mikado Pheasant (S. mikado)
    • Copper Pheasant (S. soemmerringi)

  • Peacock Pheasants (genus Polyplectron)
    • Bronze-tailed Peacock Pheasant (P. chalcurum)
    • Mountain Peacock Pheasant (P. inopinatum)
    • Germain's Peacock Pheasant (P. germaini)
    • Grey Peacock Pheasant (P. bicalcaratum)
    • Malaysian Peacock Pheasant (P. malacense)
    • Bornean Peacock Pheasant (P. schleiermacheri)
    • Palawan Peacock Pheasant (P. emphanum)

  • Ruffed Pheasants (genus Chrysolophus)
  • True Pheasants (genus Phasianus, Phasianus colchicus)

Sources/Links