General

Kalij Pheasant: Glossy blue-black overall, face has bright red wattles. Crest, breast, and sides have long white to gray-brown feathers. Feathers from mid-back to rump edged in white giving a scalloped appearance, tail is long and black. Female has brown crest and body. Juvenile is dark brown, head is rufous with dark ear coverts. Upperparts mottled brown, black, and rufous, underparts are lighter brown.

Range and Habitat

Kalij Pheasant: Inhabits forests between 1000' and 7500' and also commonly seen on the edges of Mauna Loa, Hualalai, and Mauna Kea. A native of Southern Asia and introduced to the island of Hawaii in 1962.

Breeding and Nesting

Kalij Pheasant: Six to nine cream eggs are laid in a shallow scrape lined with leaves and rubbish. Female incubates for 20 to 23 days. Male takes no part in nesting but may rejoin after chicks have left the nest.

Foraging and Feeding

Kalij Pheasant: Forages along roadsides, clearings, and in forests for seeds and insects.

Vocalization

Kalij Pheasant: Male has a crowing call and courtship call is a shrill pig-like squeal. Both sexes utter low grunting noises.

Similar Species

Kalij Pheasant: Not likely to be confused with any other species.