Temminck’s Tragopan (Tragopan temminckii)

Description of the species

Temminck’s tragopan (lat. Tragopan temminckii) is a galliform bird in the pheasant family, widespread in South Asia. It is named after the Dutch zoologist Coenraad Jacob Temminck (1778-1858). Like other tragopans, it is a montane species that favors extensive forest tracts at high elevations.

Size: males reach about 64 cm in length, with a relatively short 18-23 cm tail; mass 980-1600 g. Females are smaller: about 58 cm long, tail 15-18 cm, mass 970-1100 g.

Male plumage: black head with feathers and a hood showing orange side stripes; orange spots on the upper neck transition to a bright orange lower neck and dark orange-red breast and body. The belly shows pale gray teardrop speckling that increases toward the flanks. Back, wing coverts, rump and upper tail coverts bear white spots with black edging; the outer upper tail coverts are elongated, light gray with reddish edges. Tail feathers have barred patterns on a beige base with a broad black terminal band. Legs pink. During courtship the male inflates a dark-blue bib with pale speckles and displays greenish-blue “horns” and pale-blue wattles; the bare skin around the eye is blue and larger than in the satyr tragopan.

Female plumage: predominantly brown, densely mottled and speckled, sometimes with a reddish-brown cast; tail with faint dark barring. Legs pale flesh-colored.

Range

From Arunachal Pradesh in northeastern India eastward to northern Myanmar and Vietnam, north to central China. In China it occurs in Tibet, Yunnan, Sichuan, Guangxi, Guizhou, Gansu, Shaanxi, Hubei, and Hunan. It inhabits montane forests and large mountain massifs up to ~4,000 m a.s.l., favoring bamboo and rhododendron thickets and forests along high-elevation streams with abundant ferns. Typical climatic envelope is ~5-25 °C with annual precipitation around 200-250 cm.

Lifestyle

In the wild, tragopans are secretive, spending much of the day in canopy and dense vegetation. They are usually solitary or in pairs. The diet is omnivorous with a plant bias: buds, shoots and bamboo leaves, acorns, berries and seeds; during nesting, insects are added.

Breeding

Nests are usually placed in trees, often refurbished from abandoned nests of other species; the female lines them with leaves and twigs. Clutches typically contain 3-5 eggs; incubation lasts about 28-30 days.

Buy Temminck’s tragopan: ordering and shipping

You can purchase Temminck’s tragopans from our farm. Delivery across Ukraine. To check availability and delivery, contact via Viber, Telegram or by phone 050-182-27-27.

Common questions

How does Temminck’s tragopan differ from the satyr tragopan

Temminck’s has a larger blue bare orbital area, a different horn configuration, and a dark-blue inflatable bib with pale spots and red fields; the orange tones on the neck are typically brighter.

What husbandry conditions matter most

Provide spacious aviaries with tall cover, dry litter, and opportunities to hide among shrubs and branches. In hot weather ensure shade and ventilation; in winter, protect from damp and wind.

What should they be fed in captivity

A pheasant grower feed base supplemented with greens, fruits, and seeds; add an animal-protein source during the breeding season. Clean water and mineral supplements must be available at all times.