A bird in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou has become an Internet sensation for sporting blonde plumage on its head that bears a striking resemblance to Donald Trump's trademark comb-over.

Little Red, the five-year-old golden pheasant living at the Hangzhou Safari Park, became a star after its photo was snapped by a local journalist who realised the uncanny similarity between the male bird and the United States President-elect.

The photo soon went viral among China's social media users.

The People's Daily newspaper also picked up on the story, putting up a side-by-side photo of the pheasant-elect and the incoming US president on its official Twitter account. The post, which was retweeted 1,357 times, drew many amused responses.

One Twitter user said: "The bird wore it better."

On Chinese news site Sina, a user said: "A new trendy hairstyle was born at the end of 2016", the People's Daily reported.

The bird's keeper, however, was reportedly surprised to hear of the comparisons.

The Daily Mail cited the keeper, known as Mr Gao, as saying that he had only recently began to see the resemblance.

"I had not noticed the likeness in the past because I had not paid particular attention to the pheasant's hairstyle," he told the paper. "But after Trump was elected President of America, I start seeing more pictures of him and I think the pheasant looks a little bit like him."

Although Little Red may now be famous for his golden coif, his name was given to him because of his extremely red feathers.

Little Red's keeper, who cares for around 50 pheasants at the park, also explained the reason for the so-called Trump hairdo. He said pheasants have thicker and brighter feathers in winter for insulation, which is why Little Red appears to be sporting the American tycoon's iconic look at this time of the year.