80. Golden Pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus)

Golden Pheasants were introduced to the UK from China in the 1800s and there are now a few small self-sustaining populations here. The male is pretty unmistakeable, but Golden Pheasants can be quite hard to spot due to their preferred habitat of dense, dark forests of young conifers. The female can be confused with female Common and Lady Amherst's Pheasants but is more barred where the former is spotted, and has yellowish legs and yellow-brown plumage where the latter has grey legs and rufous plumage. There was a great episode of Living World on Radio 4 a little while ago about looking for the Golden Pheasant in Norfolk, I recommend a listen!

Golden Pheasant, ©pt101, via Flickr Creative Commons.

Golden Pheasant sketch.

I've gone for another portrait-style photo again, but not attempted colours today. I'm quite pleased with this one despite the usual proportional issues.