 PHOTO: KENNETH W. FINK |
PHOTO: KENNETH W. FINK |
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At one time the Temminck's, or Crimson-bellied, Tragopan was the most common of the genus in captivity, was bred fairly prolifically, and was found to live to a good age. Thought by many to be the most beautiful of the tragopans, they are nearest in coloring to the Satyr although the bright red of the Satyr is replaced by a deeper red coloring. The white ocelli of the Satyr's chest are replaced by much-larger, pinkish-grey patches. The facial skin is a vivid blue and, as with the other tragopans when displaying, the lappets and inflated skin horns are striking.
The hen, although darker, is much like the Satyr hen and this has led to inadvertant cross-breeding with the Satyr. Much of the stock is now seriously inbred, though some new stock imported into the United States improved the situation. Good numbers were bred in Europe in the late 1980s, though their purity is suspect as is their hardiness. They have the largest distribution area of any of the tragopans, ranging from northeastern Burma and eastern Xizang (Tibet) through Sichuan, southern Gansu and Yunnan to parts of Shaanxi, Hubei, Hunan, Guizhou, Guangxi, and the extreme northwestern portion of Tonkin in Vietnam. |
| Avicultural Notes | |
| Minimum aviary size | 400 sq. ft. (37 m2) with grass base |
| Status in captivity | Vulnerable |
| Full adult plumage | Second year |
| Egg clutch size | 2 - 4 eggs normally |
| Incubation Period | 28 days |
| Feeding Habits | Primarily vegetarian with emphasis on fruit and berries |