Green Pheasant
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Phasianus versicolor Vieillot, 1825 |
The Green Pheasant, Phasianus versicolor also known as Japanese Pheasant is a bird of the lowlands. Closely related to the Common Pheasant, the cock is distinguished by dark green plumage on breast and mantle. The male has an iridescence violet neck, red bare facial skin and purplish green tail. Female is smaller and has dull brown plumage with dark spots.
Native and endemic to Japan archipelago, the Green Pheasant is the national bird of Japan.
This species is common and widespread throughout its native range. It frequents farmlands and often seen close to human settlements, it also has been introduced in Hawaii and the United States as a gamebird.
Some authorities consider the Green Pheasant a subspecies of the Common Pheasant. In fact, after lumping and splitting the species for many years, the recently released fifth edition of National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America lumped the species once more.
