Ring-necked Pheasant
NameRing-necked Pheasant
Common NameRing-necked Pheasant
Scientific NamePhasianus colchicus
FamilyPhasianidae
Wingspan (cm)80
Length (cm)75
Weight (g)1200
Plumage DetailsMales feature an iridescent dark green head with prominent red wattles around the eyes and a distinctive white neck ring (though some subspecies lack it). Their body is coppery-brown with intricate black and white scaling, a dark green lower back, and a very long, barred tail.
Vocalization / CallMales produce a loud, abrupt 'kok-kok' or 'kerr-kut' call, often accompanied by a characteristic wing-whirring sound. They also have various clucking and crowing vocalizations.
Primary Dietomnivore
Primary Habitatsgrassland, forest, urban
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeNative to Asia, particularly China, Korea, Japan, and parts of Russia. It has been widely introduced as a game bird across Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand, establishing feral populations.
Identifying Featureslong pointed tail, iridescent green head, red facial wattles, white neck ring, coppery-brown body plumage, ground-dwelling
Description
The Ring-necked Pheasant is a large, long-tailed game bird, with males displaying vibrant, iridescent plumage. They are primarily ground-dwelling, foraging for seeds, grains, and insects in open fields and dense cover.
