Harewood

This brightly coloured bird is often regarded as the most beautiful species in the pheasant family. The male’s bright orange chest and pale blue face contrasts greatly against the female tragopan with its dull grey and brown plumage.

Temminck’s are notoriously shy birds and unlike most pheasants they prefer to nest in trees. This species of tragopan is named after the Dutch zoologist Coenraad Jacob Temminck.

Where in the world

Native across South Asia, from southwest China to northwest regions of Burma and Vietnam.

Threats in the wild

• Destruction of habitat
• Hunting and pet trade

Habitat

Temminck’s tragopans are found in damp evergreen forests where they favour areas of densely growing rhododendron and bamboo. They are native to the eastern Himalayan mountains and migrate up and down the slopes depending on the temperature and time of year, venturing to higher altitudes during the warmer months.

Diet

Their diet consists mainly of berries, grass and plants. They gather their food from the forest floor.

Lifecycle

These birds live in solitude until they find a mate. Breeding season lasts from March to April after which time the female will lay 3-5 eggs. The young are raised solely by the female tragopan and are walking and feeding within a few hours of hatching.