A bird that has been so widely introduced and naturalized around the world that its origins in Asia are often overlooked. Its adaptability and ease of breeding in captivity have made it a staple on game farms and a common target for hunters seeking game birds.
Sporting a variety of colors and patterns, the male common pheasant is particularly striking, with its iridescent copper and gold plumage and long tail. Females, or hens, are mottled with paler brown and are much less conspicuous, which provides them with the camouflage necessary for nesting and protecting their young. This sexual dimorphism is typical of many bird species where the male is more vibrantly colored to attract a mate.
The common pheasant is primarily a ground bird, preferring open fields and the edges of wooded areas where they can forage for a diet that includes grains, seeds, fruits, insects, and small animals. They are known for their “long tail,” which is used in courtship displays and also as a rudder during their short, rapid flights.
Nesting behavior in common pheasants involves the female scraping a shallow depression in the ground, often in the cover of tall grass or brush, where she lays and incubates her eggs. The species is also known for nest parasitism, wherein a female may lay her eggs in the nests of other pheasants or even different bird species, leading to interspecies competition.
While the species is widespread and not currently considered endangered, the common pheasant’s population has faced significant declines in some regions over the past 30 years, particularly in agricultural areas. Modern farming practices have altered their habitats significantly; for instance, the replacement of barley, a crop beneficial to pheasants, with more lucrative options like nut trees, has reduced the availability of food and nesting habitat.
Distribution
Afghanistan
Albania
Andorra
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia And Herz.
Bulgaria
Canada
China
Croatia
Cuba
Czechia
Denmark
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iran
Ireland
Italy
Kazakhstan
Korea
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Mexico
Moldova
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Myanmar
Netherlands
New Zealand
North Korea
North Macedonia
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Romania
Russia
Russia
Saint Helena
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Ukraine
United Kingdom
United States
Uzbekistan
VietnamAnything we've missed?
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd / Flock
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
