ML285483821

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Native to forests in mountainous areas of western China. NZ has a small feral population. The adult male is 90-105cm length, tail accounting for two-thirds of total length. It is unmistakable with it's golden crest and rump and bright red body. The deep orange "cape" can be spread in display, appearing as an alternating black & orange fan that covers all of the face except its bright yellow eye with a pinpoint black pupil. Males have a golden-yellow crest with a hint of red at the tip. The face, throat, chin, and the sides of the neck are rusty tan. The wattles and orbital skin are both yellow in colour, and the ruff or cape is light orange. The upper back is green and the rest of the back and rump is golden-yellow. The tertiaries are blue whereas the scapulars are dark red. Other characteristics of the male plumage are the central tail feathers, black spotted with cinnamon buff. The upper tail coverts are the same colour as the central tail feathers. The male also has a scarlet breast, and scarlet and light chestnut flanks and underparts. Lower legs and feet are dull yellow. The female (hen) is much less showy, with a duller mottled brown plumage similar to that of the common pheasant. She is darker and more slender than the hen of that species, with a proportionately shorter tail. The female's breast and sides are barred buff and blackish brown, and the abdomen is plain buff. She has a buff face and throat. Both males and females have yellow legs and yellow bills.

Technical information

Model

SM-J810Y

ISO

40

Focal length

3.9 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/1.7

Shutter speed

1/219 sec

Dimensions

4608 pixels x 3456 pixels

Original file size

4.89 MB