Cabot's Tragopan
Tragopan caboti
黄腹角雉
Introduction
A pheasant endemic to mountain ranges in southeastern China, occurring in Fujian, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hunan provinces. Inhabits subtropical evergreen forest and mixed deciduous-coniferous forests at elevations of 600 to 1,800 meters. Displays elaborate courtship rituals and is primarily ground-dwelling with limited dispersal ability across forest gaps over 500 meters. Assessed as Vulnerable by the IUCN due to population estimates below 10,000 individuals.
Description
A plump ground-dwelling bird with relatively short legs. Males reach approximately 60 cm in length and weigh around 1.4 kg; females are about 10 cm shorter and weigh approximately 0.9 kg. Males have a black head with reddish-orange streaks on the sides and neck, bare reddish-orange skin on the cheeks and around the eyes, and distinctive blue and orange inflatable wattles dangling below the beak. A pair of fleshy blue horns project over the eyes. The upperparts are reddish-brown with large buff markings, while the underparts are straw-coloured. Females are less colourful, with reddish-brown head and upperparts spotted and marked with triangular white patches, and greyish-brown underparts with white markings.
Distribution & Habitat
Endemic to southeastern China, occurring in the provinces of Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Jiangxi, and Zhejiang. Inhabits subtropical evergreen forests and mixed forests with deciduous and coniferous trees at elevations between 600 and 1,800 meters. Some populations occur above the treeline. Distribution is fragmented due to limited dispersal capability across forest gaps exceeding 500 meters.
Behavior & Ecology
Forages on the ground for roots, shoots, buds, flowers, fruits, and seeds, with a particular preference for the fruit and leaves of Daphniphyllum macropodum, which also serves as a roosting site. Occasionally consumes small invertebrates. Breeding occurs in spring with elaborate courtship displays. Nests are typically built in tree forks using grasses, mosses, feathers, and leaves, though abandoned nests of other species may be used. Clutches consist of two to six eggs incubated solely by the female for approximately 28 days. Chicks leave the nest shortly after hatching and remain with the female through winter, sometimes joining other family groups.
Conservation
Assessed as Vulnerable by the IUCN with fewer than 10,000 individuals and a decreasing population trend. Primary threats include habitat loss from conversion to agricultural land and conifer and bamboo plantations, which reduce suitable nesting sites in tree forks. Illegal hunting persists in some areas. Conservation measures include the potential provision of artificial nesting platforms and presence in protected areas, though these are mostly small. Zoo Praha serves as the studbook holder.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Galliformes
- Family
- Phasianidae
- Genus
- Tragopan
- eBird Code
- cabtra1
Subspecies (2)
-
Tragopan caboti caboti
foothill forest of southeastern China
-
Tragopan caboti guangxiensis
southeastern China (northeastern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region)
Data Sources
Species description from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Bird images and sounds sourced from GBIF, contributed by citizen scientists worldwide under Creative Commons licenses.
Taxonomy data from AviList 2025.