Birds
Ring-Necked Pheasant
Phasianus colchicus · also called common pheasant
Bursting suddenly into flight with a loud, startling flush after running low through farmland stubble, a ring-necked pheasant flashes iridescent copper and gold plumage circled by a bold white neck ring, a bird so widely introduced worldwide that few people realise it began its story in Asia.
Overview
The ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus, is a large, vividly coloured game bird native to forest and grassland habitat across Asia, with introduced populations now established across Europe, North America, and other regions worldwide. Its bold white neck ring, dramatic contrast between colourful males and camouflaged females, and status as one of the most widely introduced game birds on Earth make it one of the most recognisable pheasant species found anywhere.
A bird that travelled the world
Few game birds have been introduced as widely as the ring-necked pheasant, whose original Asian range has been overshadowed for centuries by deliberately established populations across entirely different continents, to the point that its Asian origins are now largely forgotten outside its native range.
Status
Least Concern, remaining widespread and abundant both within its native Asian range and across the many regions where it has been introduced as a game bird.
Ring-Necked Pheasant: common questions
How did the ring-necked pheasant get its name?
Males of this species have a bold white ring encircling the neck, contrasting against iridescent copper, gold, and green plumage elsewhere on the body, a distinctive marking that gives the species its common name.
Is the ring-necked pheasant native to Europe and North America?
No, this species is native to Asia, but it has been introduced so extensively as a game bird across Europe, North America, and elsewhere that most populations encountered in these regions today are the result of deliberate introduction rather than natural range.
Why do ring-necked pheasants startle people when flushed?
This species tends to run from danger rather than fly, but when finally forced into the air it bursts upward suddenly with a loud, startling flush and rapid whirring wingbeats, a dramatic escape response that often catches nearby people or dogs off guard.
Do male and female ring-necked pheasants look the same?
No, males have vivid iridescent copper, gold, and green plumage with a white neck ring, while females have plain, mottled brown plumage that provides effective camouflage while incubating eggs on the ground.