Birds Of Japan 31:The Japanese Green Pheasant-日本の野鳥31: キジ

Japanese Green Pheasant キジ Scientific name: Phasianus versicolor The Japanese Green Pheasant is one of Japan’s most iconic birds and is also the national bird of Japan. In Japanese it is called キジ / Kiji. It is endemic to Japan, meaning its natural native range is Japan only. Tennoji Zoo also describes it as an endemic Japanese species and Japan’s national bird. The male is very colorful, with a dark green body, glossy blue-purple neck, red facial skin, and a long barred tail. The female is much more modest, mostly brown with mottled patterning, which helps her hide on the ground when nesting. Very stylish male, very practical female — classic pheasant design. In Japan, it lives in grasslands, farmland, riverbanks, forest edges, open woodland, and satoyama countryside. It is often seen walking on the ground rather than flying, and males give a loud call followed by wing-drumming, especially in spring.

Japanese Green Pheasant キジ

The Japanese Green Pheasant is a beautiful ground-dwelling bird and the national bird of Japan. It is often seen in grasslands, farmland edges, riverbanks, open fields, shrublands, and woodland margins. The male has glossy green plumage, a red facial patch, a long tail, and rich dark colors, while the female is brown and well camouflaged among grasses.

Usually walking on the ground, this pheasant feeds on seeds, leaves, shoots, berries, insects, and other small animals. During the breeding season, males call loudly and flap their wings in display, often standing in open places to announce their territory.

Category

Pheasants, Gamebirds, Ground Birds

IUCN Status

Least Concern

Habitat

Grasslands, Farmland Edges, Riverbanks, Shrublands, Woodland Margins

Region

Japan, Mainly Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu

Behavior

Ground Walking, Loud Calling, Wing Display, Seed and Insect Feeding

Population

Common in Suitable Open Habitat

キジ Japanese Green Pheasant

キジは、日本の国鳥として知られる美しい地上性の野鳥です。草地、 農地の周辺、河川敷、開けた場所、低木林、林縁などで見られます。 オスは光沢のある緑色の体、赤い顔の裸出部、長い尾、濃く美しい羽色が 特徴で、メスは褐色で草むらに溶け込みやすい保護色をしています。

ふだんは地上を歩きながら、種子、葉、新芽、木の実、昆虫、 小さな動物などを食べます。繁殖期にはオスが大きな声で鳴き、 翼を強く羽ばたかせるディスプレイを行います。開けた場所に立って なわばりを主張する姿もよく見られます。

Category

キジ科、地上性の鳥、日本の国鳥

IUCN Status

低危険種

Habitat

草地、農地の周辺、河川敷、低木林、林縁、開けた場所

Region

日本、本州、四国、九州を中心に分布

Behavior

地上を歩く、大きな鳴き声、翼を羽ばたかせるディスプレイ、種子や昆虫を食べる

Population

適した開けた環境では普通に見られる