pheasant

The common pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) is a large, ground-dwelling bird in the family Phasianidae. Native to the forests and farmlands of Asia, it has been widely introduced elsewhere for hunting and decorative purposes. It shows marked sexual dimorphism: males, or roosters, are brightly colored with coppery bodies, iridescent green heads, a white neck ring in some subspecies, and a long, multicolored tail; females, or hens, are mottled brown and camouflaged.

Males are typically larger than females, with total length commonly 50–90 cm and weights ranging from about 0.9 to 2.0 kg in males and 0.8 to 1.5 kg in females. The plumage of the male varies with subspecies and season.

Pheasants occupy farmland edges, hedgerows, tall grass, and woodland margins. They prefer cover for nesting and escaping predators. In many regions they roost in trees at night. They are widely distributed in Europe, North America, Africa, and Oceania as a result of introductions, in addition to their native range across much of temperate Asia.

They are primarily ground-foraging omnivores, feeding on seeds, grains, insects, berries, and fallen fruit. They nest on the ground, with females laying clutches of roughly 8–16 eggs. Incubation lasts about 23–28 days, and the chicks are precocial, leaving the nest within hours of hatching.

Conservation status varies by region but the species as a whole is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. They remain an important game bird and are managed through habitat alteration and stocking in some areas, while in others they can compete with native wildlife or become agricultural pests.