Tragopan
Encyclopedia
Tragopan is a genus of bird in the family Phasianidae
Phasianidae
The Phasianidae is a family of birds which consists of the pheasants and partridges, including the junglefowl , Old World Quail, francolins, monals and peafowl. The family is a large one, and is occasionally broken up into two subfamilies, the Phasianinae, and the Perdicinae...

. These birds are commonly called "horny pheasants" because of two brightly-colored, fleshy horns on their heads that they can erect during courtship displays. The scientific name refers to this, being a composite of tragus (billy goat
Goat
The domestic goat is a subspecies of goat domesticated from the wild goat of southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the Bovidae family and is closely related to the sheep as both are in the goat-antelope subfamily Caprinae. There are over three hundred distinct breeds of...

) and the ribald half-goat deity Pan
Pan (mythology)
Pan , in Greek religion and mythology, is the god of the wild, shepherds and flocks, nature, of mountain wilds, hunting and rustic music, as well as the companion of the nymphs. His name originates within the Greek language, from the word paein , meaning "to pasture." He has the hindquarters, legs,...

(and in the case of the Satyr
Satyr
In Greek mythology, satyrs are a troop of male companions of Pan and Dionysus — "satyresses" were a late invention of poets — that roamed the woods and mountains. In myths they are often associated with pipe-playing....

 Tragopan, adding Pan's companions for even more emphasis). Their habit of nesting in trees is unique among phasianids.
There are five recognized species of Tragopans. Tragopans are endangered.
  • Western Tragopan
    Western Tragopan
    The Western Tragopan or Western Horned Tragopan is a medium-sized brightly plumaged pheasant found along the Himalayas from Hazara in northern Pakistan in the west to Uttarakhand within India to the east...

     Tragopan melanocephalus
  • Satyr Tragopan
    Satyr Tragopan
    The Satyr Tragopan Tragopan satyra, also known as the Crimson Horned Pheasant, is a pheasant found in the Himalayan reaches of India, Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan. They reside in moist oak and rhododendron forests with dense undergrowth and bamboo clumps. Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, shrubland...

     Tragopan satyra
  • Temminck's Tragopan
    Temminck's Tragopan
    The Temminck's Tragopan, Tragopan temminckii is a medium-sized, approximately 64cm long, pheasant in the genus Tragopan. The male is a stocky red-and-orange bird with white-spotted plumage, black bill and pink legs. It has a bare blue facial skin, inflatable dark-blue lappet and horns...

     Tragopan temminckii
  • Blyth's Tragopan
    Blyth's Tragopan
    Blyth’s Tragopan or the Grey-bellied Tragopan is a pheasant that is a vulnerable species.-Distribution and Population:...

     Tragopan blythii
  • Cabot's Tragopan
    Cabot's Tragopan
    The Cabot's Tragopan, Tragopan caboti is a pheasant found in south-east China. This large bird is divided into two subspecies, of which the nominate race is found in the provinces of Fujian, Jiangxi, Zheijiang, and Guangdong, and T. c. guangxiensis is confined to northeastern Guangxi and southern...

    Tragopan caboti
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