Am-Gold Tails

There is a small region in southwestern China where the range of Goldens and Amherst overlap. Despite this, these two species do not come into contact with each other. Amherst occupy the high mountain slopes between 7,000 and 12,000 feet. Goldens live in the dense growth of the steep rocky ridges 6,500 feet and lower. Thus nature has kept these two breeds pure and the only Am-Gold tails are a result of captive breeding.

am-gold tail /white, 3/4 Amherst, pure Amherst, pure Golden, 3/4 Golden, am-gold tail /tan

Tying with Am-Gold Pheasant Feathers

Anytime you cross two breeds, sometimes you come up with something spectacular. Such is the case here.

The feathers in the picture above chart the result of mixing Goldens and Amherst blood to different degrees. The two center tails are pure. The two on the outer edge are from the first breeding - 50/50. Some Am-Gold tail feathers have a tan background like a golden, while others are white like an Amherst. Whatever the color, the black pattern is not as tight as on a Golden.

The feather below the pure Amherst is only 1/4 Golden, and even though the bird is 3/4 Amherst, interestingly, the barring is completley scrambled. Occasionally, as in the picture on the left, the background can even be a bit tan. Cross an Am-gold back to a Golden hen and you come up with a feather like the one above the pure Golden. The only difference in a 3/4 Golden's tail is that they are a bit longer.

Am-Gold tails have made a solid alternative to the sometimes finicky golden pheasant tails for married wings. Longer fibers and the ability to stay married figure prominently in the popularity of this bird’s tail. Other uses parallel the Golden.

feather assortments
full skins
fly patterns
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<am-gold tails>

Am Gold Tail Feathers

These Am-Gold center tails are perfectly matched center tail feathers, both coming from the same bird. The feathers are graded on barb length which ranges from 2" to 3". Please indicate if you'd prefer a tan or white pair.


3" barb - $50 2 1/2"+ barb - $45 2"+ barb - $40

Earth Tones

red	yellow	orange	chartruese	cahill dunn	splash dunn	blue dunn



blue dunn	dark blue dunn	light blue dunn	cahill dunn	splash dunn	blue dunn

Bright Colors

	blue dunn	dark blue dunn	light blue dunn	cahill dunn	splash dunn	blue dunn

Am Gold Crests

Some of the birds have a dark crest like the bird in the picture. They come in packages of 5 feathers, sorted by size. Large are 3", medium are 2", and small are 1".


Large - $5 Medium - $4 Small - $3


Light	Dark	Red Tipped

<amgold tails> Tiger Pattern Side Tail Feathers

There are seven sets of side tails on an Am-gold. The longest are actually longer than the center tails, while the shortest are only about 3 inches long. The barb lengh on the longest tails are long and the pattern makes for some interesting flies.


Large - $25 Medium - $15 Small - $5

Tippets

The tippets on an Am-gold are unique in that they have a straight edge like a golden but are white like an Amherst. Some bird will have a slight yellow cast like the ones in the picture on the right.


Large - $ Medium - $ Small - $

Sword Feathers

Fly Fishing show season is just around the corner! As with every year, I will have the same wide selection, plenty to pick through, and off course, a few new offerings to grab your attention


Large - $5/pr Med - $4/pr Small - $3/pr

AmGold - Male

Every year we harvest a limited number of only the finest males for flat mounts, study skins, and full mounts. Only males in perfect feather and excellent color patterning are selected.

If you are interested in one, please contact me and I will email you some pictures of specimens available in addition to the one pictured here.

For the serious collecter, I also have a few hens available. It is interesting to put them side by side with a pure golden and amherst hen to see the transitional effects of crossing.


Males - $175 Females - $125


head	body	tail

I'm looking for pictures of flies and the recipies you used to tie them. Please give me a call or email me for more information.

Thanks!

Pheasants All pheasants are native to Asia. There are 52 different breeds of these beautiful birds, 17 of which are listed as endangered. Habitat destruction and hunting has reduced the number of these birds in the wild. The Hainan Peacock Pheasant, thought to be a subspecies of the grey, is one of these and is one of the most endangered birds in all of China. Today it is at greater risk of extinction than even the Giant Panda. None listed here are in such danger - but with habitat destruction and population growth, it's just a matter of time. Breeds:
Tragopans, Monals & Koklass
	Satyr	Temmink's	Impeyan	Koklass

Gallopheasants
	True Silver Lewis Silver	Crawfurd's/Lineated Dark Feathered Kalij	Bornean Firebacks Malayan Firebacks	Siamese Fireback

Long-tailed & True Pheasants
	Reeves	Copper	Ringneck	Designer Ringnecks

Ruffed & Eared Pheasants
	Golden	Lady Amherst	Blue Eared

Peacock Pheasants
	Great Argus Malayan	Grey	Germain's	Rothschild's

Cross-breeds
	Am-Gold	Silver x Reeves

Quick links to other exotics:
	pheasants partridge grouse softbills	quail junglefowl peafowl hookbills	guineafowl turkey bustards ratites	cranes waterfowl pigeons and doves