Tragopan is a genus of bird in the family
PhasianidaeThe Phasianidae is a family of birds which consists of the pheasants and partridges, and including the junglefowl , Old World quail, francolins, monals and peafowl. The family is a large one, containing 38 genera and around 138 species...
. These birds are commonly called "horned 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
goatThe 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: both are in the goat-antelope subfamily Caprinae. There are over three hundred distinct breeds of...
) and the ribald half-goat deity
PanPan , in Greek religion and mythology, is the companion of the nymphs, god of shepherds and flocks, of mountain wilds, hunting and rustic music. His name originates within the Greek language, from the word paein, meaning "to pasture". He has the hindquarters, legs, and horns of a goat, in the same...
(and in the case of the
SatyrIn 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...
Tragopan, adding Pan's companions for even more emphasis).
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Tragopan is a genus of bird in the family
PhasianidaeThe Phasianidae is a family of birds which consists of the pheasants and partridges, and including the junglefowl , Old World quail, francolins, monals and peafowl. The family is a large one, containing 38 genera and around 138 species...
. These birds are commonly called "horned 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
goatThe 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: both are in the goat-antelope subfamily Caprinae. There are over three hundred distinct breeds of...
) and the ribald half-goat deity
PanPan , in Greek religion and mythology, is the companion of the nymphs, god of shepherds and flocks, of mountain wilds, hunting and rustic music. His name originates within the Greek language, from the word paein, meaning "to pasture". He has the hindquarters, legs, and horns of a goat, in the same...
(and in the case of the
SatyrIn 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...
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.
- 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 in India to the East...
Tragopan melanocephalus
- Satyr Tragopan
The Satyr Tragopan Tragopan satyra also known as the Crimson Horned Pheasant is a pheasant found in the Himalayan reaches of India, China, Nepal and Bhutan...
Tragopan satyra
- 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 or the Grayed-bellied Tragopan is a pheasant that is a vulnerable species. The animal’s population is small and is believed to be decreasing at a rapid rate. Blyth’s Tragopan is located in many different areas including Bhutan through north-east India and north Myanmar to...
Tragopan blythii
- 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