Chasing the Game Birds of Hawaii - Part 2

Part 1 of this series enumerated the following as state-listed game birds currently present on the island of Hawai‘i: doves (three species)–barred, spotted and mourning; francolins (three species)–black, Erckel’s and gray; pheasants (three species)–kalij, ring-necked and melanistic mutant (blue); quail (three species)–California valley, Gambel’s and Japanese; chukar partridge; chestnut-bellied sandgrouse; and Rio Grande turkey.

Part 1 focused on the species of doves and francolins. Part 2 continues the discussion with a focus on each of the three listed pheasant and quail species.

Kalij pheasant (Lophura leucomelanos): The kalij pheasant is a heavy, dark bluish-black colored bird with a sickle-shaped tail similar to that of domestic fowl. Its distinctive tail shape has earned it the local moniker of “mountain chicken.” Male birds have a body length of 10 to 12 inches and a tail of similar length. They stand 15 to 17 inches tall. They exhibit the scarlet wattles of other pheasants.

A study conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the early 1960s suggested the uplands of Hawai‘i might offer similar conditions to those found in the