The animal on the cover of Google SketchUp Cookbook is a golden pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus). Native to mountainous forests of western China, this gamebird has been recorded in Chinese culture and art for centuries and is also known as the Chinese pheasant. Very little is known about the birds' natural habitat, as the mountain slopes and ledges they occupy are often rocky and treacherous and therefore inaccessible to humans.

Golden pheasants are striking birds. Males are more distinctive than females, and are characterized by a golden crest tipped with red, a bright red body, and a deep orange "cape," which, when spread during the courtship display, creates a fanlike shape of alternating black and orange. Females, by contrast, have mottled brown plumage with accents of beige on the face, throat, and abdomen. The tail of the female accounts for about half of her total body length, whereas the male's is proportionally longer, comprising about two-thirds of an average 40-inch body length. Both sexes have yellow tails and bills.

The golden pheasants' diet consists mainly of grain, leaves, and invertebrates; they feed on the ground but roost in trees at night. Although the birds are able to fly, their flight is quite awkward and they generally spend more time on the ground.

Commonly found today in aviaries and zoos, golden pheasants were kept in captivity as early as 1740. They are claimed to be the first species of pheasant brought to North America, and there is evidence that George Washington kept them at Mount Vernon. They are hardy, breed readily, and are compatible with other bird species (though, interestingly, not with other kinds of pheasants), making them a great choice for the novice caretaker.