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Silver pheasant

Scientific name: Lophura nycthemera

Field notes

Appearance

Males display striking black plumage with white spotting on the head and neck, silver-grey back, and long tail feathers; females are cryptic grey-brown with scaled markings. Sexual dimorphism is pronounced; males are noticeably larger and more ornate.

Size and weight

Males: 0.9–1.2 kg, body length 50–60 cm. Females: 0.6–0.8 kg, body length 40–50 cm.

Habitat

Silver pheasants inhabit dense, wet forests and thickets from lowland valleys to montane regions, preferring areas with thick ground cover and proximity to water. They favour ravines, brushy slopes, and bamboo undergrowth where dense vegetation provides shelter.

Distribution

Endemic to Southeast Asia, ranging from southern China (Yunnan, Guangxi) through northern Laos, Vietnam, and into northeast Thailand. Occurs in montane and submontane evergreen forests between 500–2,000 m elevation.

Diet

Primarily forages on the ground for seeds, insects, invertebrates, fallen fruit, and vegetation; diet shifts toward seeds and berries in autumn and winter.

Behaviour

Mostly terrestrial and solitary or in pairs; active at dawn and dusk but will feed throughout the day. Roosts in trees at night and relies on running and short bursts of flight to escape threat.

Hunting tips

Look for fresh tracks in soft ground near water seeps, and droppings along established game trails; scratched leaf litter indicates feeding sites. Approach quietly along ridge-lines and ravines during early morning or late afternoon, moving slowly through dense cover to flush birds. Sit quietly near fruiting trees or water sources, as birds follow predictable feeding routes.

Whole weight

This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 1 country in Huntify.

Names in other languages

Current language: en

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.