Yellow-bellied tragopan is a native bird species of China. [Photo/WeChat account: wxlishui]

The yellow-bellied tragopan, an endangered first-class protected wild animal that is native to China, lives in subtropical mountainous forests located at an altitude of about 1,000 meters.

Among these forested areas that the bird resides in is the Jiulong Mountain Nature Reserve in Suichang county, Lishui.

The yellow-bellied tragopan has a body length of about 50 to 65 centimeters. The male birds have a dangling fleshy wattle and a horn that is greenish-blue or reddish-brown.

The female are mostly brown, with black spots scattered on their upper bodies and white spots on their lower bodies. The bodies sport a dense pattern of black, brown-yellow, and white stripes.

People used to call the yellow-bellied tragopan "spitting ribbon birds" in ancient times. This bird was also viewed as a symbol of happiness and fortune, and was presented as tributes during the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties.

Their mating season lasts from March to May, during which male birds will fluff up their feather, showcase their muscular bodies and let their flesh wattle hang.

The yellow-bellied tragopan is mostly found in high-altitude areas such as southern Hunan, Jiangxi, and Zhejiang provinces. However, due to natural predator threats, low natural reproductive capabilities, and habitat shrinkage, there are only around 4,000 to 5,000 of these birds left.