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Green pheasant

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The green pheasant, known scientifically as Phasianus versicolor, is a unique bird. It is also called the Japanese green pheasant or Kiji. This bird is endemic to the Japanese archipelago. Endemic means it is found naturally only in that specific area. It is also the national bird of Japan. A non-government body declared it so in 1947. Many people in Japan see the female walking with her chicks as a symbol of harmony.

Scientists debate the exact classification of this bird. Some taxonomic authorities consider it a subspecies of the common pheasant, Phasianus colchicus. Other experts claim it is a separate but closely related species. There are currently three recognized subspecies of the green pheasant. The first is the nominate subspecies, P. v. versicolor, called the southern green pheasant or kiji. The second is the Pacific green pheasant, P. v. tamensis. The third is the northern green pheasant, P. v. robustipes.

These three subspecies show different physical traits in their plumage, or feathers. The male southern green pheasant has dark green feathers on its breast, neck, mantle, and flanks. He also has a bluish-purplish hood with ear tufts and red wattles. His tail is long with pale grey bands. The Pacific green pheasant has lighter plumage with more purple and blue colors. The northern green pheasant has the lightest plumage of all. Its crown and mantle appear more bronze than the others.

Faisan versicolore MHNT
Faisan versicolore MHNT

Females of the three subspecies look much more similar to one another than the males do. However, there are still some differences in their darkness. The female P. v. versicolor usually has the darkest plumage. The female P. v. robustipes has the lightest plumage. Most females have brownish-black feathers with dark brown edges fringed in pale brown. The males are generally larger than the females and have much longer tails.

Faisan versicolore MHNT
Faisan versicolore MHNT

Green pheasants are omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and animals. In their natural wild habitats, they eat grains, seeds, and various plants. They also hunt small animals like insects and worms. If they are kept in captivity, humans may feed them pellets or live food.

These birds live in many environments. They inhabit woodlands, forest edges, brush, and grasslands. They also live in parklands, farmlands, and near human settlements. They are common and widespread throughout their native range in Japan.

Their breeding season follows a specific seasonal pattern. It begins in March or April and ends in June. A green pheasant can begin breeding when it is about one year old. A female lays a clutch, which is a group of eggs, containing between six and fifteen eggs.

Faisan versicolore MHNT
Faisan versicolore MHNT

The eggs undergo incubation, where they are kept warm to develop. This process lasts between 23 and 25 days. Once the eggs hatch, the young birds begin to grow.

While common in Japan, the green pheasant has been introduced elsewhere. Stable populations exist in Hawaii. They were also introduced to North America as a gamebird, but this was unsuccessful. In North America, some game farms have crossed them with common pheasants. In the wild, the green pheasant can outcompete the common pheasant. This is because the common pheasant is less adapted to the specific ecology of the green pheasant's range.

Faisan versicolore MHNT
Faisan versicolore MHNT

In Japan, the green pheasant is one of 29 designated game species. This means they are the only species that can be legally hunted with a license. They are used for food, sport hunting, and specimen collecting. They are also kept as pets or display animals. Although their population is decreasing, they are not severely fragmented. In Japan, the bird remains a significant cultural icon and was even featured on the 10,000 yen note.

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