The Mikado pheasant (Syrmaticus mikado) is named in honour of the Japanese Emperor, known as the Mikado, during a period when Taiwan was under Japanese colonial rule. The specific name "mikado" was applied to this pheasant by ornithologists in recognition of its striking appearance and the cultural significance of the Emperor in Japanese society. The unofficial national bird of Taiwanis, it is a striking, black pheasant endemic to Taiwan, known for its iridescent blue-black plumage and long, white-striped tail feathers in males.
