Adult Male
The crown and nape are brownish-green. The forehead, narrow stripe above the eyes, chin, throat, and neck are iridescent black, green, or purple depending on the viewing angle. Below the neck, there is a broken white ring at the front and back. The upper back feathers have a dark mahogany brown base, a narrow pale white stripe down the center of each feather with a black tip, and broad reddish-brown edges along the sides. The breast is reddish-brown, with each feather having a narrow black streak along the shaft and the tip divided into two rounded lobes.
The shoulder feathers have broad reddish-brown edges, followed by a black stripe and then a pale reddish-brown stripe. The central part of the feather has a wide brown or reddish-brown area speckled with black. The feathers on the lower back and upper tail have bluish-brown tips, and the inner part of the feathers has alternating pale reddish-brown and black bars, giving these areas a bluish-brown hue with irregular black and pale reddish-brown barring. The tail is yellowish, slightly bluish, with black bars in the middle and purplish-brown on the sides.
The outer edges of the middle tail feathers and the outer edges of the other feathers are brownish, tinged with purple and blue. The wings are brown with pale brown edges or bars; the wing coverts are steel-brown; the edges of the feathers are purplish-brown; and the central part of the feathers has pale brown bars. The belly is dark brown with a reddish tint, especially on the upper belly. The flanks are shimmering golden-orange, with a triangular black mark at the tip of each feather.
Female
The crown and neck are dark brown or black with narrow reddish-brown crossbars. The back and shoulders are reddish-brown, tinged with purplish-brown. The chin and throat are yellowish-gray with dark brown streaks. The front of the neck and the upper breast have coarse black stripes and spots, slightly iridescent with a dark pink hue. The lower breast, flanks, and belly are grayish-reddish-brown, with dark brown streaks and a central part of the feather that is dark reddish-brown. The undertail is dark reddish-brown with coarse black streaks. The thighs are dull brown.
The eyes are reddish-brown. The bare skin on the face is bright red. The beak and legs are horn-gray.
Measurements
Wings (male): 225 – 245 mm; (female): 195 – 215 mm; Tail (male): 420 – 490 mm, (female): 246 – 272 mm; Legs: 70 – 75 mm; Beak: 28 – 32 mm.
Distribution
This red pheasant subspecies is distributed in southeastern China (Guangdong), Lang Son, Cao Bang, and Quang Ninh (often found in grasslands, good fern habitats, or in pine forests). The red pheasant is a beautiful and rare bird in Vietnam, and it needs to be protected.