Pheasants of Mizoram (India): Present status of diversity and distribution

Abstract

Preliminary survey on the diversity and distribution of pheasants (Phasianidae: Galliformes) was conducted for 20 months (May 2010 - December 2011) in the state of Mizoram, northeast India. Field survey at important protected areas and collection of secondary information’s indicated that six species of pheasants are present in Mizoram (i.e. 11.8% of the world pheasant species). They are Green Peafowl (Pavo muticus Linnaeus, Mizo - Ârawn), Hume’s Pheasant (Syrmaticus humiae Hume, Mizo - Vavu), Blyth’s Tragopan (Tragopan blythii Jerdon, Mizo - Vangâ), Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus Linnaeus, Mizo - Ramâr), Kalij Pheasant (Lophura leucomelananos Latham, Mizo - Vahrit) and Grey Peacock Pheasant (Polyplectron bicalcaratum Linnaeus, Mizo - Varihaw). There is only one endangered species i.e. P. muticus, while the vulnerable species T. blythii is recorded at two protected areas. S. humiae is a near threatened species; population of this species is thinly distributed in eastern side of Mizoram along/near the Myanmar border. The three lower risk categories of pheasants (G. gallus, L. leucomelanos and P. bicalcaratum) are resident species, found in most parts of the state. L. leucomelanos is the most common species, found in all 11 protected areas followed by the G. gallus and P. bicalcaratum, both of them are found in 9 protected areas. T. blythii and S. humiae are concentrated within protected areas of high altitude eastern side of the state.