Ring-necked Pheasant
Photos by Bruce Dayton

Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) Picture

ORDER: Galliformes
FAMILY: Phasianidae (Pheasants and Grouse - 15 Species)
SUB-FAMILY: Phasianinae
SPECIES: Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)

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Ring-necked Pheasant

The Ring-necked Pheasant, a game bird was originally imported from Asia. The first successful introduction was in 1880-81of about two dozen. Ring-necked Pheasants are great runners and will only take flight when there is no other means of escape. Then a pheasant will burst into flight, rise a short distance, lock its wings, and glide into a protective area. 

SIZE

 The Ring-necked Pheasant is a medium-sized (30-35") game bird similar to a chicken.
DESCRIPTION The male "cock pheasant" has barred bright brown plumage and green, purple and white markings, often including a white ring around the neck, and the head is green with distinctive red patches.

Females or “hens” have light duller mottled brown plumage.
NESTING Clutch size ranges from 8-14 eggs. Incubation is 23-26 days. The nest consists of a shallow, scratched-out depression in the ground that is lined with grass or leaves usually in tall (8-10") grassy vegetation. Females are well camouflaged and superbly adapted for being inconspicuous to protect them from predators while nesting.
RANGE Much of northern and central parts of the U.S., especially in grain producing areas.
HABITAT They habitat grasslands, wet and brushy areas interspersed with farm lands.
DIET They feed on waste grain, leaves, seeds, and insects.
Ring-necked Pheasant
Groton Township
Tompkins County, New York
CLICK - Ring-necked Pheasant Picture CLICK - Ring-necked Pheasant Picture
RNPh_112A_500209 RNPh_112A_017562
Dryden Township
Tompkins County, New York
CLICK - Ring-necked Pheasant Picture - Female CLICK - Ring-necked Pheasant Picture
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Hen Pheasant Young Cock Pheasant
Ledyard Township,
Cayuga County, New York		 Township
Cortland County, New York
RNPh_112A_4x6x96_601183.jpg (48531 bytes) CLICK - Ring-necked Pheasant Picture
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Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Drawing by
Louis Agassiz Fuertes		 CLICK - Yellow-billed Cuckoo Drawing
INTERESTING FACTS
Pellet
An object ejected by birds through their mouths, consisting of the indigestible parts of their food, such as bones, fur and the hard horny substance parts of insects. Pellets are also called 'castings' and are often used in the study of the bird’s diet.
The Ring-necked Pheasant is the state bird of South Dakota

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The images on this web page are copyrighted © 2003 - 2007 by Bruce Dayton. I want to share my photos to promote conservation and to help people identify and learn about the birds and other creatures that live with us on the North American continent. Please do not use any of my work in any non-profit or for-profit project without first getting written permission from me. You can ask for permission by emailing me at webmaster@wildlifeofnorthamerica.info. All reproductions must bear an appropriate credit.

NOTE: This site will be updated as time and pictures become available.

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Ring-necked Pheasant ( Phasianus colchicus )
 Updated 06-09-2009

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