Scientific Name: Lophura swinhoii
Common Name: Swinhoe's Pheasant
Chinese name: 藍腹鷴

 

~~ Introduction ~~
Swinhoe’s Pheasant is a species that is endemic to Taiwan. It inhabits gently sloping and detritus-covered floor of primary broadleaf and mixed broadleaf and conifer forest in mountainous areas of 300-2300 meters. It is sometimes found in secondary or man-made forest. Its diet includes plant shoots, newly grown leaves, flower buds, juicy fruits, seeds, roots, caterpillars, leeches, frogs and earthworms. The breeding season is from March to July.

~~ Morphological Characteristics~~
There are differences in the plumage between males and females. Males are blue. The facial area is scarlet. The nape, upper back and central tail feathers are white. The scapulars are reddish brown and the feet are red. Under the proper light, the feathers, except for the tail feathers, appear iridescent. Females are smaller in size and the general plumage is light reddish brown. The coloring is darker along the back. There is irregular V-shaped barring on the body. The facial area and feet are red.

~~ Taxonomic Studies ~~

~~ Ecology and Behavior ~~
Swinhoe’s Pheasant is shy and fearful of humans. It is most active at dawn and dusk. It forages for food in open areas of forests or along forest margin trails. At night, it perches on low-hanging branches. Its diet includes juicy fruits, plant shoots, newly grown leaves, and roots, as well as insects, frogs and earthworms in grassy areas. The breeding season is between March and July. This species practices polygamy with one male having several female partners during the breeding season. Swinhoe’s Pheasant usually digs a shallow pit on the ground to create a nest. Sometimes, it will build a nest on a tree branch. Clutch size is 3-8 eggs. The eggs are light yellow with a slight red hue and no speckling. The average egg size is 52 x 38mm. In general, it is the female that incubates the eggs and the incubation period is about 25 days.

Habitat distribution:
Swinhoe’s Pheasant is a species that is endemic to Taiwan. It inhabits gently sloping and detritus-covered floor of primary broadleaf and mixed broadleaf and conifer forest in mountainous areas of 300-2200 meters. It is sometimes found in secondary or man-made forest. Its distribution is quite broad and traces of activity have been reported in the Coastal Mountain Range in the eastern part of Taiwan.
 

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