Copper Pheasant（Scintillant Pheasant) ssp. subrufus

Copper Pheasant（Scintillant Pheasant) ssp. subrufus: 31th MAR, 2018. Osaka, Japan

This bird is an endemic species of Japan with 5 subspecies, and some field guides treat them as 3 taxa. Each one shows different ranges in Japan and different plumage colors. The bird in the photo is ssp. subrufus. Unlike the neighboring ssp. scintillans, it has no white edging on the feathers. Its bright copper shine is the strongest among all subspecies.

The male Copper Pheasant has a very long tail that can reach about 1 m, and, as its name suggests, it shows a rich copper color. It is symbolic, beautiful, and one of my favorite birds in Japan.

If you have seen this species, why not try to find all 5 subspecies next?