Extensive streaking of silver, green, and ash highlights the splashes of intense scarlet on the breast, face, and tail.
The blood pheasant (Ithaginis cruentus) is the only species in the pheasant genus Ithaginis.
This species’ male has dark ash on top with white shafts.
The coverts of the wings feature green feathers with wide white stripes running through the shafts of each feather.
The chin, breast, abdomen, and flanks are all vivid crimson.
Both males and females have red feet and scarlet naked skin around the eyes, but that’s where the similarities end.
Females have a drab brown hue overall, with some gray on the nape of the neck.
This bird is endemic to the Himalayas, from Nepal to Tibet and all the way to northern Burma and northwestern China.
The Blood pheasant prefers mixed wooded environments.
As well as scrub-covered land near the snowline, in these mountains.
Since the snow level declines throughout the winter, they migrate to lowland areas.
These birds forage for food mostly on green mosses and lichens.
The female builds a tiny nest under paddy straw mounds that surround pine, fir, and willow trees during the breeding season, which lasts from April to June.
They also make nests under bushes, beneath rocks, fallen trees, and tree holes near the ground.
She lines her belly feathers with leaves, dried twigs, moss, and pine needles.
