LADY AMHERSTS

*Lady Amherst’s Pheasant (_Chrysolophus amherstiae_)

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Introduction
Often mis‑heard as “Lady Hamert Pheasant,” the correct name is *Lady Amherst’s Pheasant*. This spectacular bird belongs to the pheasant family (Phasianidae) and is native to the mountainous forests of southwestern China and northern Myanmar. Named after Sarah Amherst, wife of a 19th‑century British governor‑general, the species dazzles with colour and elaborate courtship displays, yet remains elusive in the wild.

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Taxonomy & Naming
- *Scientific name:* _Chrysolophus amherstiae_ (Leadbeater, 1829)
- *Genus:* _Chrysolophus_ (Greek _khrusolophos_ – “with golden crest”)
- *Family:* Phasianidae (pheasants, partridges, quails)
- *Common synonyms:* Chinese copper pheasant, Lady Amherst pheasant

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Description
*Male:*
- *Length:* 100–120 cm (tail up to 80 cm).
- *Weight:* 675–850 g.
- *Plumage:*
- *Crest:* Bright red, pointing backward.
- *Nuchal cape:* White with black edging, forming a striking “cape” that can be raised in display.
- *Back & wings:* Dark green with metallic blue‑green sheen; rump bright yellow.
- *Tail:* Long, white with black bars and red streaks at the base.
- *Underparts:* Pure white breast, green‑scaled throat.

*Female:*
- *Length:* ~66–68 cm.
- *Weight:* 620–800 g.
- *Plumage:* Mottled brown with fine black barring, cryptic for ground‑nesting. No crest, shorter tail.

*Juvenile:* Resembles female but paler, with less defined barring.

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Habitat & Distribution
- *Native range:* Southwestern China (Yunnan, Sichuan) and far northern Myanmar.
- *Elevation:* 2,100 m – 3,600 m (temperate to subtropical montane forests).
- *Habitat:* Dense undergrowth, bamboo thickets, secondary growth, and forest edges.
- *Introduced populations:* Formerly feral in England (Bedfordshire) until ~2015; occasional escapees still reported.

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Behaviour & Ecology
Diet
- *Omnivorous:* Seeds, berries, leaves, fern fronds, bamboo shoots.
- *Invertebrates:* Spiders, small beetles, worms, especially during chick rearing.
- *Foraging:* Scratches ground with strong legs; roosts in trees at night.

Breeding & Display
- *Season:* April – June.
- *Courtship:* Male fans white‑black cape, raises red crest, spreads long barred tail, and performs a metallic “chink‑chink” call.
- *Nest:* Simple scrape on ground under dense vegetation, lined with leaves.
- *Clutch:* 6–12 pale buff eggs, incubated by female ~23‑25 days.
- *Chicks:* Precocial, leave nest soon after hatching, follow mother.

Vocalisations
- Male: Sharp, metallic “chink‑chink” during breeding.
- Alarm: Harsh squawk; female soft clucks with chicks.

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Conservation Status
- *IUCN Red List:* *Least Concern (2023)*.
- *Population trend:* Declining in native range due to *habitat loss (deforestation, agriculture)*, limited hunting pressure, and fragmentation.
- *Captive breeding:* Common in aviaries worldwide; acts as a safeguard against wild decline.
- *CITES:* Not listed.

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Interesting Facts
- *Hybridisation:* Can interbreed with Golden Pheasant (_Chrysolophus pictus_), producing fertile offspring.
- *Tail length:* Up to 80 cm in males—one of the longest proportional tails among pheasants.
- *Cement analogy:* Though not a true cement, the male’s adhesive‑like crest feathers inspired biomimetic research.
- *Historical note:* First specimen shipped to London in 1828 by Sarah Amherst, hence the name.

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Quick Reference Table
Feature Male Female
Length (incl. tail) 100‑120 cm 66‑68 cm
Weight 675‑850 g 620‑800 g
Crest Red, prominent None
Cape White‑black, erectile N/A
Tail White, black bars, red base (up to 80 cm) Shorter, brown barred
Plumage Green, blue, yellow, white Mottled brown, cryptic
Call Metallic “chink‑chink” (breeding) Soft clucks, squawk
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