Common Pheasant
Phasianus colchicus
Also known as: Ring-Necked Pheasant, Pheasant
Habitat
Ground
Diet
PlantSeed
Active Time
Diurnal
Size
1.1 kg
About This Species
A large, ground-dwelling bird of farmland, woodland edge and hedgerows, males are unmistakable with iridescent plumage and a long tail, while females are cryptically brown. Listen for the male's loud, explosive crowing call followed by a burst of wingbeats, typically given from a prominent spot at dawn. Autumn and winter are good times to see them feeding along field margins and hedge bottoms, especially early or late in the day.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- This is a widely hunted species across much of its introduced and native range, so awareness of local shooting seasons is sensible when out walking in its habitat.
- General wildlife protection laws apply outside of any hunting season, and the specifics vary considerably by country and even by region.
- Give birds space to move away naturally rather than pursuing a flushed one, which only causes unnecessary stress.
LCAvesGalliformesPhasianidae
Seasonal Activity
3,055,664 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Galliformes
- Family
- Phasianidae
Traits
- Diet
- PlantSeed
- Foraging
- Ground
- Activity
- Diurnal
- Body mass
- 1.1 kg
Photo
(c) Frank Lin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Frank Lin
CC-BY-NC-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.