Common Pheasant

Common pheasants are non-migratory birds native across Eurasia, from the Caspian region through central Asia to China, Korea, Japan, and Myanmar, and they have been introduced widely elsewhere. They inhabit grasslands, marsh edges, agricultural landscapes, and areas with protective undergrowth from sea level to approximately 3,353 metres. These deep-bodied birds have small heads and long tails. Males are larger and far more colorful than females, often displaying iridescent heads, red facial skin, barred tails, and sometimes a white neck ring (Animal Diversity Web).

Pheasants are dietary generalists that eat grain, seeds, shoots, berries, insects, and other small invertebrates. They spend much of their time on the ground, scratching through vegetation with their bills, particularly during early morning and evening. Their breeding system is polygynous: males establish calling territories in spring and may associate with several females, while females are not territorial. Female choice can be influenced by male tail length, ear tufts, and facial ornamentation. Adults average about 1,263 grams in mass (Animal Diversity Web).