The golden pheasant is one of the most beautiful birds worldwide. The flaming red and bright yellow feathers make it quite impressive, and are seen as a symbol of nobleness and auspiciousness by Chinese people. 

Also known as the Chinese pheasant, the golden pheasant is native to forests in mountainous areas of western China. The CGTN Nature film crew visited the Qinling Mountains and recorded precious footage of the amazing bird living in the wild, which features a playful battle between the pheasant and a rodent: 

The footage shows a bachelor pheasant desperate to find a wife, but involved in a fight with a mischievous squirrel. Does it finally get a date? Find out in the complete version: 

CGTN Nature: Qinling Mountains Series | Ep. 3: Phoenix in the Mountain

Like most other pheasants, male golden pheasants are quite flashy, while the females are plain in appearance. The adult male is about 1 meter in length, with its tail accounting for two-thirds of its total length. The long tail as well as brightly colored feathers are important in breeding season: only the handsome males get the opportunity to breed. 

Besides the golden pheasant, China has another rare pheasant under second-class national protection. The Lady Amherst's pheasant is also a pretty bird. Like the golden pheasant, the Lady Amherst's pheasant is distinguished by its vibrant color and long tail. The adult male is 100–120 centimeters in length, with its tail accounting for 80 centimeters of the total length. The Lady Amherst's pheasant is mostly herbivorous; local people call it the "bamboo shoots pheasant" because it is believed to share the same diet as pandas. 

About Rare Animals in China

How many rare animals in China can you list? The panda, red panda, snub-nosed monkey, snow leopard... We want to make sure you can name 100 or more.

China is home to rich biodiversity. This series will focus on the rare animals that inhabit China. Under national protection, they need us, and the first step of protection is to know who they are.

(Video clip credits to CGTN Nature film crew. Cover picture is a still shot of the video, designed by CGTN's Chen Yuyang)

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at nature@cgtn.com.)