Syrmaticus humiae
Mrs. Hume's Pheasant, *Syrmaticus humiae*, is a striking member of the Phasianidae family, often considered one of the most beautiful pheasants, inhabiting the dense forests of Southeast Asia. Males are particularly resplendent, measuring approximately 90-100 cm in length, with their tail accounting for nearly half of this, and weighing around 1 kg. They boast iridescent blue-black heads, chestnut-brown bodies, and a distinctive white bar across the wing, complemented by vivid crimson facial ...
This pheasant primarily inhabits dense evergreen and mixed deciduous forests, preferring steep, rocky slopes and ravines. It is found at elevations typically ranging from 600 to 3,000 meters above sea level.
Its diet is predominantly vegetarian, consisting of seeds, berries, fruits, shoots, roots, and tubers. It supplements this with a small amount of invertebrates, such as insects and their larvae, gleaned from the forest floor.
Mrs. Hume's Pheasant is a shy and elusive diurnal bird, spending most of its time foraging on the forest floor, often near dense undergrowth for cover. It employs a scratching technique to uncover food, similar to domestic chickens. Males establish territories during the breeding season, which ca...
Mrs. Hume's Pheasant has a fragmented but extensive range across parts of mainland Southeast Asia. It is primarily found in Northeast India, specifically in the states of Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram. Its distribution extends eastward into northern Myanmar, notably in Kachin and Shan states, an...
Near Threatened
- Mrs. Hume's Pheasant was named in honor of Mary Ann Hume, wife of the renowned British ornithologist Allan Octavian Hume, who first described the species in 1881. - The male's tail can reach up to 60 cm in length, making it one of the longest among pheasant species, though not as extreme as the...