Birds Of Japan 38:The copper pheasant (Syrmaticus soemmerringii) 山鳥ヤマドリ

Copper Pheasant ヤマドリ Scientific name: Syrmaticus soemmerringii The Copper Pheasant is a beautiful endemic pheasant of Japan. In Japanese it is called

Copper Pheasant ヤマドリ Scientific name: Syrmaticus soemmerringii The Copper Pheasant is a beautiful endemic pheasant of Japan. In Japanese it is called ヤマドリ / Yamadori, meaning “mountain bird.” It is closely related to pheasants, but compared with the Japanese Green Pheasant, it is more strongly connected with forests and mountains. The male is large and striking, with rich copper-brown plumage, fine dark barring, red facial skin, and a very long tail. The female is smaller and much more camouflaged, with brown mottled plumage that helps her hide on the forest floor. This species is shy and often difficult to see, usually walking quietly in woodland rather than flying.The Copper Pheasant is a magnificent endemic bird of Japan’s forests and mountain valleys. The male has rich copper-colored plumage, red facial skin, and a long elegant tail, while the female is brown and well camouflaged for life on the forest floor. In Japan, ヤマドリ lives mainly in wooded hills and mountain forests of Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. Secretive and often difficult to observe, it is one of Japan’s most beautiful native forest birds.

Copper Pheasant ヤマドリ

The Copper Pheasant is a beautiful forest pheasant endemic to Japan, found mainly in mountain forests, wooded valleys, dense broadleaf woods, mixed forests, and quiet forest edges. The male has rich coppery-brown plumage, fine barring, a red facial patch, and a very long tail, while the female is brown and well camouflaged among leaves and forest floor plants.

Usually shy and difficult to see, this pheasant spends much of its time walking quietly on the forest floor. It feeds on seeds, berries, leaves, shoots, roots, insects, and other small forest foods. Its secretive nature and deep woodland habitat make it one of Japan’s most impressive native forest birds.