The Lady Amherst pheasant (Chrysolophus amherstiae) was named for Sarah, Countess of Amherst (1762-1838) by her husband, William Pitt Amherst, Governor General of India, who was responsible for sending the first birds to London in the early 1800s. It’s Latin name Chrysolophus is made up from the Greek words chryseos meaning golden, and lophos, Greek for crest. It is found in Southwestern China & northern Myanmar (Burma). It is one of two species known as ruffed pheasants (the Golden pheasant is the other). The adult male is 100–120 cm in length, its tail accounting for 80 cm of the total length. It is unmistakable with its black and silver head, long grey tail and rump, and red, blue, white and yellow body plumage. The "cape" can be raised in display. The female is much less showy, with a duller mottled brown plumage all over, similar to that of the female common pheasant but with finer barring. She is very like the female golden pheasant, but has a darker head and cleaner underparts than the hen of that species.
