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Satyr tragopan,or Crimson horned pheasant (Tragopa nsatyra)
Phylum —chordata
Class — aves
Order — galliformes
Family —phasianidae
Genus – tragopan
Appearance
Males are approximately 71 cm in length, and females are approximately 61 cm long. For males, wing length ranges from 245 to 285 mm, and tail length ranges from 250 to 345 mm. Female wing length and tail length measure 215 to 245 mm and 195 mm, respectively.
The males are bronze-like to burnt-orangish to orange-crimson in their neck, breast, and abdomen, and their backs are a darkish brown with a lighter brown mottling. The breast may be crimson. They have overall spotting from just below the neck; the spots are white encircled with black. Their heads have a black, sickle-shaped marking on both cheeks from the neck to the back of the eye back toward the neck. They have a bluish face. The chin is blue to almost black and may blend in with the sickle-shaped marking. There is also a thin black necklace which partially extends around the throat. The shoulders are crimson, and the primaries are deep brown with buff mottling. Under the tail, the feathers are crimson with white spots encircled with brown, with black fringing on the ends. The lower back, rump and shorter tail coverts are olive-brown with the same spotting, and the longer tail coverts are amber-brown. The legs are pinkish to greyish-white and the beak is black. Two alula quills are present that are chestnut with dark brown mottling on the inner tips. Horns and orbital skin are a brilliant blue. The lappet (or gular wattle) is also a brilliant blue, and when extended, four to five triagular-shaped patches of brilliant scarlet on bright sage green edging are shown.
The females are an overall brown with ochre streaking and blackish blotching. The tail is a rufous-brown with broken buff and black barring. The outer tail feathers are barred. Underneath, the overall coloration is similar to males, but is paler. In some females, a grey tint may be present overall. The legs are a fleshy greyish-brown, and the beak is a brownish color.
Habitat
Satyr tragopans are found in the central and eastern parts of the Himalayas. For the most part, they are the only tragopan in Bhutan and Nepal.
Behavior
These birds are more dependent on flight than other tragopans. They also like to perch. Satyr tragopans will migrate up and down the slope of the Himalayas, wintering 1000 to 2000 m lower in elevation than they ordinarily live during the breeding season.
Satyr tragopans are unobtrusive birds; they are often hidden and difficult to see in their natural habitat. Even when flushed, the birds will quickly fly into nearby branches and disappear from view. During the summer, they are found in pairs. During the post-breeding season, they may be found in small groups. At other times of the year, they may be solitary.
Diet
These tragopans eat insects, a lot of green vegetation, berries, and other fruit. Satyr tragopans especially like the petals, buds and leaves of plants such as the paper laurel, rhododendrons, ferns, daphne, and bastard cinnamon. They also eat bamboo shoots, rhododendron seeds and bulbs from the onion family. The insects they eat include earwigs, ants and cockroaches. They will also consume invertebrates such as spiders and centipedes.
Reproduction
Breeding occurs from May to June, although some birds may not breed until July at higher elevations.
The nest is made of sticks and twigs and is built off the ground in trees and shrubs at an elevation of 6 m or more. It is well concealed from view.
In the wild, a typical clutch is two to three eggs. In captivity, the hen will lay four to six and sometimes as many as eight eggs. The buff-colored eggs have reddish-brown dots or blotches. The eggs measure 65 by 42 mm and weigh an average of 63.3 g.Incubation time is twenty-eight days.
The precocial chicks may be rufous brown, pale buff, and dark rufous brown. They can survive without food for 2 days after hatching. After two or three days, the chicks are able to fly and perch. The young remain with the mother for their first year and reach sexual maturity in 2 years.
In captivity
Lifespan - up to 21 years in captivity.
The satyr tragopans live in heavily wooded areas of the Himalayas, it is therefore best if they can have some good shaded areas in the aviary.
All the tragopans are great birds to keep as long as you have sufficient space for them. This is mainly to give them plenty of vegetation to eat. They love eating their greens as well as fruit and flowers. They are not diggers however so the plants do have a good chance of survival if plenty are planted.
Satyrs are not flighty birds in fact they become very tame and will wait patiently by the gate every morning for you to come and feed them. They will delicately peck the food from your hand and then proceed to gulp down enormous chunks of fruit that look like they could not possibly fit down the bird's throat.
They are very easy to look after and perfectly hardy. A truly wonderful bird all round.
