Ring-necked Pheasant
Phasianus colchicus
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Phasianus colchicus
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Mass
~1 kg
Habitat
Urban areas and gardens
Diet
Omnivore
How to recognize it
The ring-necked pheasant is easy to notice at a glance, mostly because the sexes look so different. The male is vivid and showy, while the female stays plain and brown, which makes the pair memorable on a walk.
It is cautious and prefers to run rather than fly. When startled, it shoots up with a loud whir of wings and may give a sharp kok kok kok alarm.
It uses wooded edges, thickets, river valleys, lake shores, and field margins with cover nearby. Its food is varied, from seeds, fruit, berries, and shoots to grain, insects, molluscs, and worms; in snowy areas it may even feed near farms.
Quick Facts
Listen to the call
The ring-necked pheasant is easy to notice at a glance, mostly because the sexes look so different. The male is vivid and showy, while the female stays plain and brown, which makes the pair memorable on a walk.
It is cautious and prefers to run rather than fly. When startled, it shoots up with a loud whir of wings and may give a sharp kok kok kok alarm.
It uses wooded edges, thickets, river valleys, lake shores, and field margins with cover nearby. Its food is varied, from seeds, fruit, berries, and shoots to grain, insects, molluscs, and worms; in snowy areas it may even feed near farms.
How to recognize it
You might also see
Sources
- eBird — Phasianus colchicus Sightings map and full description on eBird
- Wikipedia — Common pheasant Encyclopedia article