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Koklass pheasant
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| Koklass pheasant | |
|---|---|
| Male at Pangot, Uttarakhand, India | |
| Female at Yichang, Hubei, China | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Galliformes |
| Family: | Phasianidae |
| Subfamily: | Phasianinae |
| Genus: | Pucrasia G.R. Gray, 1841 |
| Species: | P. macrolopha
|
| Binomial name | |
| Pucrasia macrolopha (Lesson, 1829)
| |
The koklass pheasant (Pucrasia macrolopha) is a species of gamebird, being closely related to progenitive grouse that lived during the Miocene. They are distantly related to pheasants and are most closely related to grouse and turkeys. Koklass are the only species in the monotypic genus Pucrasia. Both the words koklass and pucrasia have been onomatopœically derived from the bird's territorial call.[2]
Koklass are boreal adapted species which separate into three distinct species groups. They are one of the few gamebirds that regularly fly uphill and are capable of sustained flights of many miles. They are monogamous with a slight tendency toward social polyandry. Both parents rear the chicks. Koklass are largely vegetarian for much of the year consuming pine nuts, pine shoots, bamboo shoots and seeds. They are highly insectivorous during the warmer months that coincide with nesting and chick-rearing. During this phase of their life cycle they live almost exclusively on ants but also are documented consuming catkins, pollen and fruit.


The koklass pheasant is a polytypic species, with nine recognized subspecies:[3]
- Kashmir koklass pheasant - P. m. biddulphi (Marshall G.F.L, 1879)
- Western koklass pheasant - P. m. castanea (Gould, 1854)
- Darwin's koklass pheasant - P. m. darwini (Swinhoe, 1872)
- Joret's koklass pheasant - P. m. joretiana (Heude, 1883)
- Indian koklass pheasant - P. m. macrolopha (Lesson R.P., 1829)
- Meyer's koklass pheasant - P. m. meyeri (Madarász, 1886)
- Nepal koklass pheasant - P. m. nipalensis (Gould, 1854)
- Orange-collared koklass pheasant - P. m. ruficollis (David A. & Oustalet, 1877)
- Yellow-necked koklass pheasant - P. m. xanthospila (Gray & GR, 1886)
This entry deals with the subspecies P. m. biddulphi, which ranges from Kashmir to Kullu in India. With exception of the subspecies P. m. nipalensis, P. m. castanea and P. m. macrolopha, which are endemic to the southern side of northwest and western Himalaya, the other five are confined to China and Mongolia.
The koklass pheasant is a medium-sized elusive bird confined to high altitude forests from Afghanistan to central Nepal, and in northeastern Tibet to northern and eastern China. Upper parts of male koklass pheasant are covered with silver-grey plumage streaked velvety-black down the centre of each feather, and it has the unique feature of a black head, chestnut breast and prominent white patches on the sides of neck. The females differ from males in above characters and instead their upper parts are covered with pale brown plumage. Both sexes, however, have distinct elongated tails tipped with pale feathers. The males are known to weigh about 1135–1415 g and the females, about 1025–1135 g, with the body length varying from 58 to 64 cm and 18–22 cm respectively. Immature and juveniles resemble adult females in plumage pattern.
Like the western tragopan, it does not extend its range above the tree line. One of the less colourful pheasants, the koklass exhibits moderate sexual dimorphism. Though they skulk under bushes, which makes direct sighting difficult, they give loud chorus/predawn calls during the breeding season and during autumn, revealing their presence and allowing the populations to be estimated.[4] They remain in pairs or small family groups throughout the year. They nest on the ground and spend the nights roosting on trees, or under rock overhangs.


Gallery
[edit]-
Pucrasia macrolopha macrolopha Male at Manila, Uttarakhand
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Pucrasia macrolopha macrolopha Male at Manila, Uttarakhand
References
[edit]- ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Pucrasia macrolopha". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T22679179A92805983. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22679179A92805983.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
- ^ Charles William Beebe: A monograph of the pheasants, New York Zoological Society, 1918-1922, Bd. 3, S. 197
- ^ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (July 2021). "Pheasants, partridges, francolins". IOC World Bird List Version 11.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
- ^ Kaul, Rahul; Shakya, Suresh (2001). "Spring call counts of some Galliformes in the Pipar Reserve, Nepal". Forktail. 17: 75–80.
Koklass pheasant
View on GrokipediaTaxonomy and systematics
Etymology and naming
The common name "koklass" is an onomatopoeic derivation from the male's loud, ringing territorial call, which sounds like "kok-kok-lass," and is also reflected in local names such as "pokrass" in Nepal.[7] This name has been adopted in English ornithological literature since the 19th century, drawing from indigenous Himalayan languages where similar vocal imitations describe the bird.[8] The scientific name Pucrasia macrolopha was originally described as Satyra macrolopha by French naturalist René Primevère Lesson in 1829, based on specimens from the Almora Hills in Kumaon (then part of British India).[8] The genus Pucrasia was later established by British zoologist George Robert Gray in 1831, latinizing a vernacular onomatopoeic term from the bird's cry, akin to "pukras" in local dialects.[7] The specific epithet macrolopha derives from Ancient Greek "makros" (long) and "lophos" (crest), referring to the prominent elongated crest on the male's head.[7] The koklass pheasant occupies the monotypic genus Pucrasia within the family Phasianidae and order Galliformes, representing a basal lineage among pheasants.[8] Phylogenetic analyses place it as the sister group to the clade comprising turkeys and grouse, with evolutionary roots tracing to ancestral phasianids from the Miocene epoch, around 23–5 million years ago.[9]Subspecies
The Koklass pheasant (Pucrasia macrolopha) is a polytypic species comprising nine recognized subspecies that exhibit geographic variation in plumage coloration, pattern intensity, and minor differences in size and crest structure, reflecting adaptations to diverse high-altitude forest environments across Asia. These variations include differences in the extent of grey, chestnut, and black tones on the upperparts and underparts, as well as tail markings, though detailed genetic studies on subspecific boundaries remain limited.[3][10] The subspecies are distributed from the western Himalayas eastward to central and eastern China, with the following delineations based on modern taxonomic assessments:- P. m. castanea: Found in eastern Afghanistan and adjacent northwestern Pakistan (including Chitral). This subspecies features deep chestnut tones over the ventral plumage and mantle, with reduced chestnut on the tail, increased black pigmentation on the back, and chestnut sides and flanks.[7]
- P. m. biddulphi: Occurs in the Himalayas of Kashmir (extending to parts of northern India). It is characterized by chestnut extending over the hindneck to form a collar, darker maroon ventral plumage with black margins, rufous-buff tail, and grey sides and flanks.[7]
- P. m. macrolopha (nominate): Inhabits the western Himalayas from central Himachal Pradesh (India) to western Nepal. The nominate form displays the standard plumage with a long buff-and-dark-green crest, glossy dark green head and neck, white lateral neck patch, grey upperparts, a chestnut ventral line, and black outer tail feathers tipped with rufous and white; the underparts are grey with chestnut on the mantle and rufous on the secondaries and rectrices.[7]
- P. m. nipalensis: Restricted to west-central Nepal. This taxon shows intense melanism with black dorsal plumage edged in grey, chestnut on the mantle and hindneck, and nearly black sides and flanks.[7]
- P. m. meyeri: Distributed in south-central China, from western and southwestern Sichuan to northwestern Yunnan, with historical occurrence (now extinct) in southeastern Tibet. Plumage variations include reddish tones in some populations, though specific traits are less documented compared to Himalayan forms.[3]
- P. m. ruficollis: Occurs in central China, from southern Gansu and Shaanxi to western Sichuan. It is distinguished by a rufous collar and browner overall tones relative to western subspecies.[3]
- P. m. xanthospila: Found in northeastern China, from southern Shaanxi northeastward to southwestern Manchuria. This subspecies exhibits yellow-spotted markings in the plumage, contributing to paler or more contrasted patterns.[3]
- P. m. joretiana: Limited to central-eastern China in southwestern Anhui. It shows browner plumage with reduced grey tones compared to the nominate.[3]
- P. m. darwini: Inhabits central and eastern China, from Hubei to Fujian (extinct in northwestern Fujian and northern Guangdong). This form is noted for slightly larger body size and variations in color intensity, including darker or more saturated hues.[3]
Physical description
Plumage and sexual dimorphism
The male Koklass pheasant (Pucrasia macrolopha) displays a silver-grey body plumage characterized by lanceolate feathers with central black shaft-streaks, creating a patterned appearance. The head and neck are glossy dark greenish-black, featuring prominent white crescent-shaped patches on the sides of the neck, a maroon breast band, and an elongated tail with pale buff tips and dark cross-bars. A distinctive dark greenish-black crest adorns the crown, and the bare facial and orbital skin is red, though the face itself is fully feathered, unlike many other pheasants.[2][11][3][7] In contrast, the female exhibits cryptic pale brown plumage overall, marked with buff streaks and barring that provide effective camouflage in forested understory environments. She has a shorter crest than the male and retains red orbital skin, but lacks the vibrant colors and bold patterns of the male. Juveniles closely resemble adult females in plumage but appear duller, with less distinct streaking.[2][11][7] The Koklass pheasant shows moderate sexual dimorphism, with males possessing more ornate and contrasting plumage relative to the subdued tones of females. Both sexes undergo a seasonal molt in late summer, replacing worn feathers post-breeding. This dimorphism has adaptive significance: the male's conspicuous coloration and patterns facilitate visual displays for mate attraction and territorial defense, while the female's muted, disruptive patterning enhances concealment during nesting and foraging in dense vegetation.[11][12][13][7]Size, weight, and measurements
The Koklass pheasant exhibits sexual dimorphism in size, with males generally larger than females. Adult males measure 58–64 cm in total length, including a tail of 22–28 cm, and weigh 1135–1415 g.[3] Adult females are smaller, with a total length of 52.5–56 cm, a tail of 17–19.5 cm, and a weight of 930–1135 g.[3]| Measurement | Males | Females |
|---|---|---|
| Total length | 58–64 cm | 52.5–56 cm |
| Tail length | 22–28 cm | 17–19.5 cm |
| Wing length | 23.5–25.5 cm | 21.5 cm |
| Wingspan (expanse) | 73–76 cm | 70–72.5 cm |
| Weight | 1135–1415 g | 930–1135 g |
