a male mikado pheasant, a large member of the pheasant family. these pheasants are related to the more well known chinese ringneck pheasants, but are very recognizable by their rich purple color. they are native to taiwan.

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the male mikado pheasant is easily recognizable as a large, royal purple bird. mikado pheasants are native to taiwan, and are related to the more familiar ringneck pheasant.

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bird of the day: the yellow tit

the yellow tit is a small member of the tit family native to central taiwan. they are also known as the taiwan yellow tit or formosan yellow tit.

this little bird is closely related to more well known species like the eurasian blue tit. there are several similar species, but in general the yellow tit’s bright coloring and crest make them somewhat distinct.

this bird mainly feeds off of insects, with caterpillars being a primary food source for the young.

unfortunately, the numbers of this bird have started to decline. recently, they have been trapped to be sold as pets. they are now listed as ‘near threatened’ by the iucn.

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