Species Profile
Common Pheasant
Phasianus colchicus
Quick Facts
Conservation
LCLeast ConcernLifespan
3–7 years
Length
50–90 cm
Weight
720–1600 g
Wingspan
70–90 cm
Migration
Resident
Also known as: Ring-necked Pheasant
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Appearance
The male Common Pheasant is a spectacular bird. It boasts a vibrant green head, red facial wattles, and a white neck ring. Its body is decorated with golden-brown feathers, often with a coppery sheen, and it has a long, pointed tail.
Females are much more subdued, with mottled brown plumage that provides excellent camouflage. Both sexes have strong legs and feet adapted for scratching and running.
Identification & Characteristics
Male Colors
- Primary
- Brown
- Secondary
- Blue
- Beak
- Grey
- Legs
- Grey
Female Colors
- Primary
- Brown
- Secondary
- Black
- Beak
- Grey
- Legs
- Grey
Female Markings
Mottled brown plumage with dark spots and bars
Attributes
Understanding Attributes
Rated 0–100 based on research and observation. A score of 50 is average across all bird species. These attributes are relative and don't necessarily indicate superiority.
Habitat & Distribution
Common Pheasants thrive in various habitats, including woodland edges, farmland, and grasslands with adequate cover. They are particularly fond of areas with a mix of open ground for feeding and dense vegetation for shelter.
Originally native to Asia, pheasants have been widely introduced and have established populations across Europe, North America, and parts of Australia and New Zealand. They are especially common in the UK and parts of the US Midwest.
Distribution
Where to See This Bird
Explore regional guides for locations where this bird has been recorded.
England
Suffolk
Northern Ireland
Essex
Cambridgeshire
Buckinghamshire
Cheshire
Devon
Durham
Hampshire
Isle of Wight
Merseyside
Leicestershire
Lincolnshire
Norfolk
North Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
Tyne and Wear
Shropshire
Staffordshire
Stockton-on-Tees
Herefordshire
East Riding of Yorkshire
Dorset
Cornwall
Lancashire
Kent
Oxfordshire
Worcestershire
Northumberland
East Sussex
London
Somerset
West Sussex
Rutland
Northamptonshire
Warwickshire
Nottinghamshire
Gloucestershire
West Yorkshire
Cumbria
Hertfordshire
Manchester
Surrey
Derbyshire
Hawaii
Bedfordshire
Montana
Nebraska
Iowa
Scotland
Idaho
Wales
Kansas
United Kingdom
Wiltshire
Berkshire
Minnesota
North Dakota
Utah
South Dakota
New Brunswick
Nova Scotia
Diet
Common Pheasants are omnivorous, eating seeds, grains, and insects. They forage on the ground, scratching their feet to uncover food. In agricultural areas, they often feed on crop residues and occasionally damage crops.
Behaviour
Common Pheasants are ground-dwelling birds that prefer to run rather than fly when disturbed. They are often seen strutting in open fields, with males displaying to females during breeding season.
These birds are typically solitary or found in small groups, except during winter when they may form larger flocks.
Calls & Sounds
Nesting & Breeding
The breeding season for Common Pheasants typically begins in spring. Males establish territories and attract females with loud calls and elaborate displays, fanning their tails and fluffing their feathers.
Females construct a simple nest on the ground, often hidden in tall grass or under dense shrubs. They lay 7-15 olive-brown eggs in a clutch.
Incubation lasts about 23-26 days and is carried out solely by the female. Chicks are precocial, able to leave the nest and feed themselves shortly after hatching, but remain with the hen for several weeks.
Conservation
While the Common Pheasant is not globally threatened, its populations can be affected by changes in farming practices and habitat loss. In many areas, populations are maintained through releases for hunting, which can have positive and negative impacts on local ecosystems.
Birdwatching Tips
- Look for pheasants in field edges and hedgerows, especially early morning or late afternoon.
- Listen for their distinctive 'kok-kok' call, often followed by loud wing beats.
- In the UK and US, pheasants are commonly seen in agricultural areas and game reserves.
- Be patient and move quietly; pheasants will often freeze or run rather than fly when approached.
Did You Know?
- Pheasants can fly at speeds up to 60 km/h when escaping danger.
- They were introduced to Britain by the Romans and to North America in the 1880s.
- Male pheasants can have harems of several females during breeding season. It is not unknown for these harems to consist of ten hens which the cock confines to his own distinct territorial area.
- During the shooting season in the UK, which falls annually between October 1st and February 1st, over 35,000,000 birds are released in organised shoots.
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