Ten more years of the golden pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus) on Maui, Hawaiian Islands

Pacific Science
By: , and 

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Abstract

Since the introduction of the Golden Pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus) to Haleakalā volcano, Maui, three decades ago, subsequent reports have hinted at an expansion of this nascent population. We draw from a variety of data sources to learn about this pheasant's present status on Maui. First, forest bird surveys conducted every five years revealed that the frequency of Golden Pheasant detections has greatly increased, and the bird has both maintained its former distribution and expanded eastward into Haleakalā National Park (NP). Second, reports to eBird from The Nature Conservancy's Waikamoi Preserve, where Golden Pheasants first appeared on Maui, demonstrate that the frequency of observations has increased and is strongly seasonal, predominantly in the spring. Third, autonomous recording units monitoring endangered forest birds recorded pheasants too, adding new locations. Finally, trail cameras set to monitor mammals picked up pheasants as well, showing males of two color morphs: original “wild-type” and “dark-throated.” Trail cameras also documented a small juvenile at Waikamoi Preserve and both females and males in Haleakalā NP. By “connecting the dots” of mapped occurrences, we traced the pheasant's progression through a narrow band of subalpine cloud forest with open understory, extending from Waikamoi Preserve eastward to upper Kīpahulu Valley, a distance of 14 km. In summary, this body of evidence supports the claim that the Golden Pheasant has established a self-sustaining population on Maui, and we propose that the species' success there may be attributed to the minimal influence of predators and the absence of competing gallinaceous birds in its preferred habitat.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Ten more years of the golden pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus) on Maui, Hawaiian Islands
Series title Pacific Science
DOI 10.2984/78.4.1
Volume 78
Issue 4
Publication Date July 03, 2025
Year Published 2025
Language English
Publisher University of Hawaii Press
Contributing office(s) Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center
Description 17 p.
First page 355
Last page 371
Country United States
State Hawaii
Other Geospatial Maui
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