Pheasants and grouse · Gamebirds
Ring-necked Pheasant
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Phasianus colchicus
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Voice
Call
Call
Song
How to recognize it
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Body length up to 85 cm, very long tail
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Male: glossy green head, red ring around the eyes, copper-red back
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Female: dull brown plumage with dark spots and streaks
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Usually runs; when startled, bursts upward with whirring wings
About the species
A male combines copper-red and chestnut plumage with a glossy green head, while his long tail is brown and streaked with black. Red bare skin around the eyes and pale wings barred with dark marks add smaller flashes of color. Females are much duller, with brown feathers patterned in darker spots and streaks.
On the ground, it usually runs for cover rather than taking to the air. When startled, it bursts upward with a whirring rush of wings, often giving a repeated "kok kok kok" call. Outside the breeding season, it gathers in loose flocks and roosts in sheltered trees at night.
It uses grassland near water, scrub, woodland, farmland, and wetlands, often where small copses offer cover. It forages for seeds, grain, berries, and leaves, as well as insects, worms, and slugs. People have introduced it to Europe, North America, and many other regions, where it has become established.
Where to find
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Along river and lake banks, look for a ring-necked pheasant in dense cover at ground level; when startled, it tends to hide in grass and bushes rather than fly up into a tree.
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At field edges where shrubs alternate with small clearings, watch for feeding on seeds, berries, and shoots.
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In woodland with dense undergrowth and small clearings, a sudden disturbance may bring a whirring burst of wings and "kok kok kok" calls.
