Blood pheasant (Ithaginis cruentus) is found in the area of the Himalayas. This pheasant is extremely local and rare in India, but in Nepal, this is considered common. The blood pheasant is also found in northern Burma and also in western China. This pheasant breeds at elevations between 9,000 and 15,000 feet, but is known to winter as low as 7,000 feet. This bird can almost reach 16 inches in length. There is a good drawing after page 22 in the Birds in China book by Xu Weishu. This drawing shows green feathers near the wing ends. This drawing also shows a dark throat.

This pheasant has many subspecies based on differences in color. Some forms of this species have a white breast that is vividly marked with vertical red streaks. Other forms have either a reddish or black face. The throat is normally red.

There are about 12 (Howard and Moore in 2003) to 14 (Clements in 2007) listed subspecies. The nominate subspecies, Ithaginis cruentus cruentus is found in northern Nepal. The subspecies affinis is found in Sikkim and Bhutan. The subspecies tibetanus is found from eastern Bhutan into Xizang (southern Tibet). The subspecies kuseri is found from eastern Assam east into Tibet and south into Yunnan, China. The subspecies geoffroyi is found in western China into eastern Tibet.

The subspecies marionae is found in northeastern Myanmar(Burma) into southwestern China. The subspecies rocki is found in southwestern China (Mekong Valley). The subspecies clarkei is found in northern Yunnan, China. The subspecies holoptilis is found in southwestern China in Likiang, Yunnan (Not listed in H&M).

The subspecies berezowskii is found in the mountains of central China. The subspecies beicki is found northeastern Qinghai and Gansu.

The subspecies michaelis is found in northern central China. The subspecies sinensis is found in Shensi. The subspecies annae is found in southwestern China in the mountains of northwestern Sichuan (Not listed in H&M).

The blood pheasant genus (Ithaginis) contains a single species. This is found from the Himalayan area south into Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan and Assam. This is found further south into north eastern Myanmar (Burma). The range also extends in western China. The 18 inch male has a red throat, and some males also have a red breast.

Pheasant (sub)family (Family Phasianidae) contains the true pheasants, chickens, and peafowls. (Different authors treat this and related groups differently. Some place everything in the family Phasianidae, and others divide the family Phasianidae into several different families. Herein we treat the pheasants, quails, grouse, and partridges as separate families.) Herein we treat the pheasants, quails, grouse, and partridges as separate families.) We have counted 51 species and another 5 additional subspecies of true pheasants. With a few exceptions the vast majority of the true pheasants are native to eastern Asia and south into Southeast Asia.

Included in this group of some of the largest and most beautiful exotic birds known. Many species are ground dwellers and run from danger as opposed to taking flight. Many species are sought by amateur and professional hunters.

Fowl group (Galliformes order) contains the various chickens and turkey-like birds of the world. There are about 240 different species of fowl known. Many of the wild species are endangered. Several species such as the domesticated chicken and turkey are main food sources in the world. Most fowl are grain eaters and spend a good portion of their life searching for food on the ground. Select species have been domesticated for their beauty and/or edibility, others are considered good game birds.

Aves contains about 8,650 different species of living birds known to science. Each year about one new species is discovered in some remote rain forest or remote island. In addition, scientists have been raising many subspecies to full species status which may raise the species count to 10,000. Birdlife recognizes 10,027 species as of 2011.

However, each year about one species goes extinct. The rate of extinction is increasing, and the rate of new discovery is decreasing, so that the number of bird species will soon begin to decline rapidly. Although different taxonomists would organize the birds differently, there are approximately twenty-seven orders of birds. These orders are broken down into about one hundred and fifty-five different families.

Recent research of the genetic structure of some of the shore birds and owls would indicate that the present organization of orders and families should have some modification.

The birds are a worldwide group of animals that are characterized by having the front limbs modified into wings that are used for flying. Perhaps the most unique feature of the birds is the feathers. These feathers are made up of a central support called a quill and a series of small filaments that are hooked together as barbs.

For many years it was believed that Archaeopteryx discovered in Bavaria was the oldest bird from about 150 million years ago. However, in l986, Sankar Chattterjee, a Texas paleontologist, reportedly discovered a bird in the genus Protoavis that lived about 225 million years ago.

When this project was begun in 1978, we used Austin & Singer for bird taxonomy. Since then, we have adopted many changes, but have kept some older concepts that are still found widely in the literature. Recently, we have used Clements and Howard & Moore. Very recently, we have used Monroe and Sibley for the higher taxonomy of the perching birds.

Backboned Animals (Phylum Chordata) are the most advanced group of animals on earth. These animals are characterized by having a spinal cord or backbone. Most members have a clearly defined brain that controls the organism through a spinal cord. Fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals are in this phylum.

Currently, some taxonomists believe that the fish should be divided into two groups (sharks and regular fishes) and that there are some other primitive groups in the phylum such as hagfish or lampreys.

Animal Kingdom contains numerous organisms that feed on other animals or plants. Included in the animal kingdom are the lower marine invertebrates such as sponges and corals, the jointed legged animals such as insects and spiders, and the backboned animals such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

NEW SEARCH