Subfamily Phasianinae Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Genus Phasianus Higher classification Phasianus | |
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Similar Eurasian tree sparrow, Kibi dango, Helmeted guineafowl, Game, Ostrich |
Green pheasant
The green pheasant (Phasianus versicolor), also known as Japanese green pheasant, is native to the Japanese archipelago, to which it is endemic. It was formerly considered to be a subspecies of the common pheasant. It is the national bird of Japan.
Contents

green pheasant
Description

The male (cock) has dark green plumage on the breast, neck, mantle, and flanks. The male also has bluish-purplish hood with clear ear-tufts, red wattle, and long, pale grey-banded tail. The female is smaller than the male, with a shorter tail, and has brownish black colored plumage, with dark brown feather fringed pale brown.
Habitat and distribution

It is found throughout Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu as well as some smaller islands; it has also been introduced in Hawaii and (unsuccessfully) in North America as a gamebird. It inhabits woodlands and forest edges, brush, grassland, and parkland.

This species is common and widespread throughout its native range. It often frequents farmlands and human settlements. The introduced populations on Hawaii are stable. Populations in Western Europe have perhaps bred with the Common Pheasants for a number of years and no pure Green Pheasants exist there any longer. This species has been crossed with the Common Pheasants on some game farms in North America and released.
Hunting

