The green pheasant (Phasianus versicolor), also known as the Japanese green pheasant or kiji, is the national bird of Japan. The male has vibrant, emerald green plumage on its head, neck and breast while the female is a more subdued brown color. The green pheasant was designated as the national bird of Japan in 1947.
History of the Green Pheasant in Japan
The green pheasant is indigenous to Japan and can be found throughout the islands of Honshu, Kyushu and Shikoku. It inhabits woodland areas and forest edges from lowlands up to subalpine zones. The green pheasant has long been respected in Japanese culture for its beauty and regal nature.
Archaeological evidence shows that the green pheasant was hunted for food and feathers since the Jomon period (14,000 – 300 BCE). Depictions of the bird have been found in Yayoi period (300 BCE – 300 CE) pottery and jewelry. In the Nara period (710 – 794 CE), the green pheasant became a popular artistic motif and symbol of nobility. Many aristocrats during the Heian period (794 – 1185 CE) included the green pheasant in their family crests.
The distinct green coloring of the male pheasant is caused by interference of light reflecting off the feathers. The vibrant iridescent hue was admired by the Japanese as a symbol of life and renewal. It represented the arrival of spring and was thought to have protective powers over the home.
Significance in Religion and Folklore
In Shinto beliefs, the green pheasant is considered a divine messenger of the gods and a harbinger of good fortune. There are various folktales that feature the green pheasant interacting with humans and offering help, guidance or gifts.
One story tells of a poor farmer who shared his meager meal with an injured green pheasant. In return, the pheasant led the farmer to buried treasure, allowing him to live comfortably. Another legend recounts a green pheasant guiding the famous general Minamoto no Yoshitsune through a snowstorm to safety.
The green pheasant also has symbolic meaning in Buddhism. Its green plumage is said to represent nature’s beauty and the cycle of renewal. Some Buddhist temples in Japan use the green pheasant as a decorative motif on gates, roof tiles and other structures.
National Bird Declaration
In 1947, the green pheasant was officially declared a National Natural Treasure and National Bird of Japan. This designation came under the “Act on Protection of Cultural Properties” enforced after World War II. The legislation was intended to preserve and promote aspects of Japanese culture and heritage.
The male green pheasant was selected to represent the natural beauty and spirit of Japan. Its bright green plumage evoked imagery of the nation’s lush mountains and forests. The regality of the bird mirrored imperial history. Its mythical qualities also made it a strong cultural symbol.
Cultural Significance Today
The green pheasant remains an important symbol in Japan today. It is a popular mascot and often used in advertising campaigns. The green pheasant appears on stamps, coins, bank notes and medals issued by the Mint Bureau of the Ministry of Finance.
Many Japanese prefectures and municipalities have also adopted the green pheasant as a local emblem. Notable public art includes the Okaya Kiji Park and the Giant Kiji statue in Karuizawa, Nagano prefecture. The Karuizawa Kiji Festival is held annually to celebrate the green pheasant.
The green pheasant is portrayed in Japanese art, literature, music, television and film. It remains part of folklore and children’s stories as a sign of hope and auspiciousness. Some major Japanese companies use the green pheasant in their corporate logos and as mascots.
Protection and Conservation
The green pheasant population saw a sharp decline in the early 20th century due to rapid industrialization and urbanization in Japan. Extensive deforestation and large-scale land development destroyed much of the bird’s natural habitat.
In 1934, the Japanese government designated the green pheasant a National Natural Monument and outlawed hunting of the birds. This helped the population recover to some degree. Further conservation laws have been introduced over the decades.
However, habitat loss remains the largest threat to green pheasants in Japan today. Their survival is dependent on protection of old growth and secondary forests. Conservation groups are working to preserve wooded areas and reconnect fragmented forest habitats.
There are also captive breeding programs at zoos, educational facilities and nature parks across Japan. These help maintain genetic diversity in the population and provide public education about green pheasant conservation.
Population Status
Year | Population Estimate |
---|---|
1934 | 100,000 birds |
1970 | 200,000 birds |
1990 | 100,000 birds |
2010 | 150,000 birds |
2022 | 120,000 birds |
As shown in the table above, the green pheasant population has fluctuated over the past century due to ongoing habitat loss and fragmentation. However, conservation efforts have prevented more drastic declines. The latest population estimate is around 120,000 mature birds.
The species is currently evaluated as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. There is concern that accelerating development and urban sprawl could substantially impact the population in the coming decades.
Physical Description
The green pheasant is a mid-sized, long-tailed gamebird in the family Phasianidae. Here are some key physical features:
- Length: 60-90 cm
- Wingspan: 70-90 cm
- Weight:
- Male: 600-1,250 g
- Female: 500-1,100 g
- Plumage:
- Male: Iridescent green head, neck and breast. Rufous brown mantle and wings. White cheek stripe.
- Female: Buff brown head, neck and breast with black barring. Brown mantle with buff mottling.
- Bright red facial skin
- Pinkish beak
- Strong legs and feet adapted for terrestrial living
- Distinctive crowing call
The male’s green head and breast feathers consist of an interlocking mosaic of blue and yellow pigment granules. When light hits them, some wavelengths are absorbed while others are reflected back, producing the shimmering emerald color.
Habitat and Diet
Green pheasants thrive in various types of forested habitats at elevations up to 2,500 m. They prefer a mix of:
- Dense underbrush for shelter and roosting
- Canopy openings that allow growth of ground vegetation
- Nearby open fields or forest edges for foraging
Ideally, their home range should be around 4-5 hectares of woodland and forest edge. They avoid dense, dark forest interiors.
Green pheasants are omnivorous, feeding on a wide variety of plant and animal material. Their diet includes:
- Seeds and grains
- Berries, fruits and nuts
- Buds, shoots, leaves and flowers
- Mosses, ferns and fungi
- Insects, snails and other invertebrates
- Occasionally small vertebrates like lizards or snakes
They forage on the ground in litter or dense vegetation. Males call from high perches early and late in the day to advertise territory and attract females.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
Green pheasants have a typical reproductive strategy for birds in the order Galliformes. Key points include:
- Breeding season from March to June
- Polygynous mating system where males mate with multiple females
- Males use elaborate visual displays and vocalizations to court females
- Females lay clutch of 6-15 eggs in a well-concealed ground nest
- Eggs hatch after 23-25 days incubation
- Precocial young leave nest shortly after hatching
- Females provide parental care and raise chicks alone
- Sexual maturity reached in 1 year
- Average lifespan around 5 years in wild
Nesting success is dependent on availability of dense understory vegetation that provides concealment from predators. The chicks, or hatchlings, are able to feed themselves but rely on the hen for warmth, protection and guidance.
Relationships with Humans
The green pheasant has a complex relationship history with humans in Japan. Here are some key points:
- Important food and feather source historically
- Subject of art, poetry and folklore for centuries
- Population decline due to overhunting and habitat loss
- Now protected by law from hunting and capture
- Ongoing habitat preservation efforts
- Prominent cultural symbol and national icon
- Tourist attraction for birdwatching activities
While human activities pushed the green pheasant close to extinction in the early 1900s, conservation policies and habitat management have since allowed the population to rebound. Many Japanese people take great pride in the green pheasant and its symbolic significance.
However, ongoing urbanization continues to threaten its specialized forest habitat. Careful land use planning and engagement of industry and the public will be needed to secure the future of Japan’s avian emblem.
Conclusion
In summary, the green pheasant holds a cherished place as the national bird of Japan due to its cultural significance, mythical associations and natural heritage. This iconic bird has been revered for centuries and remains an important symbol of Japanese identity and values today.
Conservation efforts have helped some recovery from population declines, but habitat loss continues to pose the biggest threat. Maintaining Japan’s old growth and secondary forests will be key to preserving viable wild populations of its green pheasant into the future.