Ring-necked Pheasant
Field Reference: Ring-necked Pheasant
Appearance & Identification
Males have a red face patch, iridescent green head, white neck ring, and a long, pointed tail. Females are mottled brown for camouflage.
Preferred Habitat
Tall switchgrass, brushy fence rows, and cornfield edges. In the ANF, look for PGC-managed habitat and stocking sites.
Seasonal Behavior
Wary and prefers running over flying. When cornered, it flushes with a loud, startling cackle and explosive wing beats.
Recommended Tactics
Hunting with a flushing or pointing dog in thick cover. Blockers at the end of a field are often necessary for wild birds.
Field Notes & Facts
Originally brought to North America from Asia in 1881, pheasants have a specialized "burst" musculature that allows them to accelerate from a standstill to 40 mph in seconds—but they are so biologically tethered to the ground that they can actually starve to death during deep snow crusts if they cannot scratch down to the soil.