Ring-necked Pheasant
Phasianus colchicus
When threatened, these birds prefer to run at speeds up to 10 mph rather than fly, though they can burst into flight at 48 mph.
- Scientific name
- Phasianus colchicus
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Galliformes › Phasianidae › Phasianus
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Agricultural fields, brushy hedgerows, and tall grasslands.
- Diet
- Omnivorous; feeds on seeds, grains, berries, insects, and occasionally small lizards.
- Range
- Asia, North America, Europe, Australia
- Size
- 50-90 cm in length with a wingspan up to 86 cm
- Lifespan
- 1-3 years in the wild
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Intensive farming practices, habitat loss, and heavy pesticide use reducing insect prey.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless and skittish. They will likely flush with a loud whirring of wings if startled. Observe from a distance; if you find a nest on the ground, do not disturb it.
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Photo: John Krampl, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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