Bird
Common Pheasant
Phasianus colchicusAlso known as Ring-necked Pheasant, Blue-headed Pheasant
Male common pheasants boast brilliant iridescent copper plumage, bold red facial wattles, and a distinct white neck ring that catches the light during spring displays. Females wear mottled brown tones that provide near-perfect camouflage among grassy nest sites on the ground. Roosters announce their territory with a harsh, two-note crow accompanied by a sudden burst of wing-whirring that carries across agricultural fields.
GamebirdColorfulTerrestrial
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyWaste Grains, Insects, Wild Berries
Predators
- Red Fox
- Coyote
- Raptors
ThreatsHabitat loss, intense agricultural practices, winter storms, vehicle collisions
HabitatsAgricultural fields, overgrown pastures, wetlands, brushy edges
Life span1–3 years in the wild
Classification
- OrderGalliformes
- FamilyPhasianidae
- GenusPhasianus
- SpeciesPhasianus colchicus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Listen for Calls: Listen early in the morning for the male's loud two-note territorial crowing.
- Scan Field Edges: Look along hedgerows and fence lines where fields meet tall brush.
- Keep Distance: Avoid flushing feeding birds to prevent scaring them toward roads.
Competitor david galavan / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
Close Relative "Golden Pheasant, Tangjiahe Nature Reserve, Sichuan, China" by jmhullot is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Close Relative "Reeves's Pheasant" by shankar s. is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Distant Relative Subramanya C K / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
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