The Mikado pheasant is a species of gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds. Sometimes considered an unofficial national bird of Taiwan, a pair of Mikado pheasants and Yushan National Park, one of the areas it is known to inhabit, is depicted in the 1000 dollar bill of the New Taiwan dollar.
Region
Taiwan (central and southern high mountains)
Typical Environment
Occupies dense understory in montane evergreen broadleaf and mixed conifer–broadleaf forests, often with bamboo, rhododendron, and fern thickets. Prefers steep, mossy slopes, forest edges, and lightly disturbed areas like quiet track-sides where cover is close. It is largely terrestrial, moving deliberately through ground cover and using low vegetation for concealment. Protected areas such as Yushan, Taroko, and Shei-Pa National Parks hold key populations.
Altitude Range
1500–3300 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
Sometimes treated as an unofficial national bird of Taiwan, the Mikado pheasant appears with Yushan National Park on the NT$1000 banknote. Males are striking with glossy dark-blue to black plumage and bold white tail bars, while females are cryptically mottled. It is a shy, ground-dwelling bird that often forages along quiet mountain roads at dawn and dusk. Strict protection in national parks has helped stabilize many local populations.
China Airlines Airbus A350-900 (B-18901) with Mikado Pheasant livery.
Syrmaticus mikado - MHNT
Temperament
shy and elusive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, mostly terrestrial
Social Behavior
Generally solitary or in pairs, becoming more conspicuous in the breeding season. Nests on the ground in concealed sites, laying a small clutch in leaf litter. Displays include quiet strutting and low calls by males near favored foraging routes.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are subdued, with low hoots and soft clucks, most often at dawn and dusk. Alarm calls are sharper, rapid notes given when flushed from cover.
