Lady Amherst's Pheasant

Chrysolophus amherstiae (Leadbeater, 1829) LM LAAPH 3970
Family: Galliformes > Phasianidae

A small population of this distinctive pheasant was present in Bedfordshire for many years, peaking at around 100–200 pairs, but has since disappeared.

Originally established through a series of deliberate introductions, beginning in 1828 with one by Lady Sarah Amherst, this native of central China probably struggled in Britain with changes to woodland structure and the loss of understorey vegetation.

Select a topic for more facts and statistics about the Lady Amherst's Pheasant

  • Breeding
  • Winter
Introduced Breeder

SEASONALITY

437 records observations recorded by BTO surveyors
437 records

BTO RECORDS

Introduced Breeder

SEASONALITY

437 records observations recorded by BTO surveyors
437 records

BTO RECORDS

Identification

Lady Amherst's Pheasant identification is usually straightforward.

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Status and Trends

Population size and trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO surveys and atlases with data collected by BTO volunteers.

CONSERVATION STATUS

This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

POPULATION SIZE

DISTRIBUTION

Lady Amherst's Pheasants were introduced to Bedfordshire in the late 1800s, and there have been additional localised introduction attempts elsewhere. By 2007–11 most of these birds had disappeared and only five 10-km squares were occupied.

  • Lady Amherst's Pheasant breeding distribution 2008-11
    Britain and Ireland Breeding Distribution 2008-2011.
    More from the Atlas Mapstore.
  • Lady Amherst's Pheasant winter distribution 2008-11
    Britain and Ireland Winter Distribution 2008-2011.
    More from the Atlas Mapstore.

Occupied 10-km squares in UK

European Distribution Map

European Breeding Bird Atlas 2

DISTRIBUTION CHANGE

The Lady Amherst's Pheasant shows a long-term pattern of decline and contraction of its non-native range in Britain.

Movement

Information about movement and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

RINGING RECOVERIES

View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information about Lady Amherst's Pheasant, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

PRODUCTIVITY & NESTING

BIOMETRICS

Sample sizes are too small to report Biometrics for this species.

Feather measurements and photos on featherbase

CODES & CLASSIFICATION

For information in another language (where available) click on a linked name

Welsh: Ffesant Amherst
Catalan: faisà de Lady Amherst
Czech: bažant diamantový
Danish: Amherstfasan
Dutch: Lady-Amherstfazant
Estonian: teemantfaasan
Finnish: platinafasaani
French: Faisan de Lady Amherst
German: Diamantfasan
Hungarian: gyémántfácán
Icelandic: Demantsfasani
Italian: Fagiano di Lady Amherst
Latvian: dimanta fazans
Lithuanian: deimantinis fazanas
Norwegian: Diamantfasan
Polish: bazant diamentowy
Portuguese: faisão-de-lady-amherst
Slovak: bažant diamantový
Slovenian: diamantni fazan
Spanish: Faisán de Lady Amherst
Swedish: diamantfasan

Links to more studies from ConservationEvidence.com

Read more studies about Lady Amherst's Pheasant on Conservation Evidence >

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