Pheasants and Partridges (Phasianidae)

Kalij Pheasant (Lophura leucomelanos) - HBW 2, p. 533

French: Faisan leucomèle German: Kalifasan Spanish: Faisán Kálij
Other common names: Kalij

Taxonomy: Phasianus leucomelanos Latham, 1790, India.
Forms a superspecies with L. nycthemera. Formerly included in genus Gennaeus. Races oatesi, lineata and crawfurdi, forms to E of R Irrawaddy in Burma, are more closely related to some races of L. nycthemera than to other races of present species to W of Irrawaddy; revision of these two species needed. Several races of dubious validity: horsfieldii is a synonym of lathami. Specific status has been proposed for races lathami and lineata. Nine subspecies currently recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution:

hamiltoni (J. E. Gray, 1829) - W Himalayas, from R Indus E to W Nepal.
leucomelanos (Latham, 1790) - W & EC Nepal.
melanota (Hutton, 1848) - NE India (Sikkim) and W Bhutan E to R Sankosh.

See all 9 subspecies

hamiltoni (J. E. Gray, 1829) - W Himalayas, from R Indus E to W Nepal.
leucomelanos (Latham, 1790) - W & EC Nepal.
melanota (Hutton, 1848) - NE India (Sikkim) and W Bhutan E to R Sankosh.
moffitti (Hachisuka, 1938) - described from captive birds; only reliable record in wild from C Bhutan.
lathami (J. E. Gray, 1829) - E Bhutan and NE India (Assam) E to Burma (probably E to R Irrawaddy).
williamsi (Oates, 1898) - W Burma, E to R Irrawaddy; possibly also in NE India (E Manipur).
oatesi (Ogilvie Grant, 1898) - Arrakan Yomas in S Burma, E of R Irrawaddy.
lineata (Vigors, 1831) - S Burma E of R Irrawaddy S to W Thailand.
crawfurdi (J. E. Gray, 1829) - SE Burma (Tenasserim) and peninsular Thailand.