Pheasants, Grouse, Turkeys

Ring-necked Pheasant, Phasianus colchicus

Family Phasianidae (Pheasants, Grouse, Turkeys)

Size: Male 21", female to 34"

Season: Year-round

Habitat: Grasslands, woodland edges, agricultural land with brushy cover

Another introduced species, the ring-necked pheasant is a large, beautifully colored, chicken-shaped bird with a very long, pointed tail. The male is ornately patterned in rufous, gold, and blue gray, with pale spotting on the wings and back and dark spotting underneath. The head is dark iridescent green blue with extensive red facial skin and a tufted crown. There is a clean white ring about the neck. The female is much plainer, mottled brown above and plain below, without obvious head markings. Ring-necked pheasants peck on the ground for seeds, grasses, and insects. Sounds include a harsh, two-syllabled auk-CAW vocalization and muffled wing fluttering. They are strong runners and fliers. The adult male is illustrated.