Mikado Pheasant Conservation status: Lower risk (nt)
Republic of China (Taiwan) postage stamp of a Mikado Pheasant
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Galliformes Family: Phasianidae Genus: Syrmaticus Species: S. mikado
Binomial name
Syrmaticus mikado (Ogilvie-Grant, 1906)

The Mikado Pheasant, Syrmaticus mikado, is a gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds. It is endemic to mountainous regions of Taiwan. It is an endangered species. Image File history File links A Republic of China (Taiwan) postage stamp showing the Mikado pheasant. ... National motto: None Official language Mandarin Chinese Capital and largest city Taipei President Chen Shui-bian Premier Frank Hsieh Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 138th 35,980 km² 2. ... Scientific classification or biological classification is how biologists group and categorize extinct and living species of organisms. ... Phyla Porifera (sponges) Ctenophora (comb jellies) Cnidaria Placozoa Subregnum Bilateria  Acoelomorpha  Orthonectida  Rhombozoa  Myxozoa  Superphylum Deuterostomia     Chordata (vertebrates, etc. ... Typical Classes Subphylum Urochordata - Tunicates Ascideiacea Thaliacea Larvacea Subphylum Cephalochordata - Lancelets Subphylum Myxini - Hagfishes Subphylum Vertebrata - Vertebrates Petromyzontida - Lampreys Placodermi (extinct) Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes Acanthodii (extinct) Actinopterygii - Ray-finned fishes Actinistia - Coelacanths Dipnoi - Lungfishes Amphibia - Amphibians Reptilia - Reptiles Aves - Birds Mammalia - Mammals Chordates (phylum Chordata) include the vertebrates, together with... Orders Many - see section below. ... Families Megapodidae Numididae Odontophoridae Phasianidae Meleagrididae Tetraonidae Cracidae Mesitornithidae The Galliformes is an order of birds containing the turkeys, grouse, quails and pheasants. ... The Phasianidae is a family of birds which consists of the pheasants and their allies. ... In biology, binomial nomenclature is a standard convention used for naming species. ... William Robert Ogilvie-Grant (March 25, 1863 - July 26, 1924) was a Scottish ornithologist. ... 1906 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Game is any animal hunted for food. ... Genera Ithaginis Catreus Rheinartia Crossoptilon Lophura Argusianus Pucrasia Syrmaticus Chrysolophus Phasianus † See also partridge, quail Pheasants are a group of large birds in the order Galliformes. ... This article is about the ecological meaning of endemic. See also endemic (epidemiology). ... The American bison numbered as few as 750 in 1890 due to extreme overhunting. ...

The species occupies dense shrubs, bamboo growth and grassy terrain with conifer overstory in central and southern Taiwan, from 2000 to 3200 metres above sea level. Mikado pheasants will often walk and forage for food (a diet of various fruit, leaves, vegetation, seeds and invertebrates) at the same time, in a manner similar to chickens, on the forest floor and mountain trails, especially on rainy and foggy days. They will often come out into the open either in light rain or after heavy rain, where the fog often conceals them. These birds tend to be solitary, often quiet, yet alert. The pheasants can usually tolerate the presence of humans and as long as there is a distance of 10-20 metres, it is possible to observe them. When disturbed, they will often slowly and cautiously seek out shelter within surrounding shrubs, rather than trying to flutter away in a panic. If desperate, they can fly only short distances, diving down the mountainside. The males are territorial, with a range of 200- 400 metres in radius. They make ke, ke, ke calls when fighting for their mate or territory. Orders & Families Cordaitales † Pinales   Pinaceae - Pine family   Araucariaceae - Araucaria family   Podocarpaceae - Yellow-wood family   Sciadopityaceae - Umbrella-pine family   Cupressaceae - Cypress family   Cephalotaxaceae - Plum-yew family   Taxaceae - Yew family Vojnovskyales † Voltziales † The conifers, division Pinophyta, are one of 13 or 14 division level taxa within the Kingdom Plantae. ...

The breeding season of Mikado pheasants lasts from March to June. Mikado pheasants build their nests mainly with dead branches, fallen leaves, dry grass and feathers in tree holes or depressions under rocks. Females usually lay 3-8 creamy-coloured eggs at one time and it is they who are solely responsible for the incubation of the eggs (which take about 26-28 days to hatch) and the nurture of fledglings, once they are born. The young are usually independent by 6 months the latest.

The shiny long-tailed males of this species get to be up to 70 cm in body length, while the smaller and less showy females measure up to 47 cm.

The long and stiff shiny tail feathers of the bird were used by the Taiwanese aborigines as a headdress decoration. Closeup on a single white feather A feather is one of the epidermal growths that forms the distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on a bird. ... A Rukai village Chief visiting the Department of Anthropology in Tokyo Imperial University during the Japanese rule. ...

There are some Mikado pheasants bred in captivity, but there are only about 10,000 individuals in the wild, particularly in the Yushan National Park. Heavy hunting pressure was a problem in the past, but is not a serious threat today. Jade Mountain or Yushan (玉山) is situated in the Yushan National Park (玉山國家公園) in the Republic of China on Taiwan. ...

External links

• BirdLife Species Factsheet
• 5 photos