Family Pheasants, Partridges, Turkeys, Grouse (Phasianidae)

Vulnerable

Blyth's Tragopan (Tragopan blythii)

figure, drawing, illustration of Blyth's Tragopan (Tragopan blythii)

Taxonomy

French: Tragopan de Blyth German: Blythtragopan Spanish: Tragopán de Blyth
Taxonomy:

Ceriornis Blythii

Jerdon

, 1870,

Nagaland, India

.

One genetic study indicated that present species is most closely related to T. satyra#R. Race molesworthi known only from three specimens. Dubious race rupchandi (Lushai Hills, in Mizoram, NE India) generally included within nominate blythii. Specimen from W Yunnan–Myanmar border region thought to be a hybrid between present species and T. temminckii. Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution
  • T. b. molesworthi E. C. S. Baker, 1914 – E Bhutan, adjacent Tibet and NE India (Arunachal Pradesh).
  • T. b. blythii (Jerdon, 1870) – NE India (now largely confined to Nagaland, but recorded also in Mizoram, Manipur#R and Assam#R), Myanmar and S China (NW Yunnan).

    • Descriptive notes

    Male 65–70 cm (tail 18–22 cm), c. 1930 g; female c. 58 cm (tail c. 17 cm), 1000–1500 g. Male is only Tragopan with red breast and pale smoky grey... read more

    Voice

    Male advertising call is a deep, loud and repeated moaning “ohh ohhah...ohaah.. ohaaah...... read more

    Habitat

    Densely wooded valleys and hillsides with Rhododendron and thick herb understorey between... read more

    Food and feeding

    Few observations. Diet believed to consist of a variety of seeds, berries, fruits and buds. The single female specimen of race ... read more

    Breeding

    Mating system unknown, but male seen accompanying two females in spring in Myanmar. Season apparently from early Apr to mid May; female... read more

    Movements

    Seasonal movements stated to be small, as weather extremes are not very marked. Recorded at 1500 m... read more

    Status and conservation

    VULNERABLE. Mace Lande: blythii endangered; molesworthi insufficient information. CITES I. Little up-to-date information available, due to inaccessibilty of... read more

    Recommended citation

    McGowan, P.J.K. & Kirwan, G.M. (2019). Blyth's Tragopan (Tragopan blythii). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/53478 on 12 December 2019).