Factfile
Where they live
central China
Habitat
forests and woodlands of the central Chinese Mountains
Size
length: 240cm (male) and 170cm (female) tail length: up to 185cm in males
Weight
1.6kg (male) and 0.9kg (female)
Lifespan
15-25 years
Threats
The wild population is declining, perhaps fewer than 2,000 individuals still exist in what is left of the original range. Destruction of habitat and overhunting are the primary threats
Did you know...
- In the past this pheasant was illegally hunted for its tail feathers for use in Peking Opera costumes
- Named after John Reeves, (1774-1856), a British naturalist and businessman who sent the first specimens back to England in 1831
- The species is officially recognised by the Guinness Book of records as having the longest tail feathers of any bird
More about Reeves pheasants...
Reeves pheasant is found in a range of mountain forests, especially the dense oak forests of Central china where it is found in flocks of 6-10 individuals depending on the time of year. The larger groups which assemble over winter usually disperse with the arrival of the breeding season in the spring. Males establish and advertise their territories from March to June. They are thought to pair with a single female (monogamy) and she lays 6-10 eggs in a nest which is usually built in long grass or under a bush. Incubation is undertaken by the female and the eggs hatch after 24-25 days.
A typical pheasant, the bird forages for food by scratching and digging through the substrate of the forest floor . The food consists mainly of seeds and fruit but flowers, fresh shoots , buds, insects, snails and worms are also taken. Although living and feeding on the forest floor during the day Reeves pheasant roosts high off the ground in trees at night.
