Breeding Habitat:Grassland
Nest Type:N/A
Migration Status:Permanent resident
Nest Location:N/A
While the first Ring-necked Pheasants were released in North America during the late 1800s, large numbers were initially introduced during the first decades of the twentieth century. Their continental populations peaked between the 1930s and 1950s, followed by a marked decline during subsequent years. For example, Dahlgren (1988) estimated a 50% decline in the continental population and a 33% decline in the midwest population between 1971-1986. Similar declines have been reported from a number of states (Andrews and Righter 1992, Brauning 1992, Peterjohn 1989, Stewart 1975). Factors responsible for these declines include more intensive agricultural land use practices resulting in reduced habitat availability, the increased use of pesticides, and adverse weather conditions (Dahlgren 1988).
Ring-necked Pheasants are fairly vocal during the breeding season and are well sampled by the BBS. They are most numerous on the Great Plains from Kansas north to the Dakotas and Montana and east to Illinois (Relative Abundance Map). They can be locally numerous elsewhere, especially west of the Rocky Mountains. A similar distribution is indicated on CBCs for this resident species.
Declining populations of Ring-necked Pheasants are also evident throughout the history of the BBS. The 1966-1994 trend estimates indicate increasing populations in 3 states (Kansas, North Dakota, and South Dakota) and 4 physiographic strata, while declines occur in 12 states/provinces, 8 strata, the Central and Western BBS regions, United States, and survey-wide (Trend List). Trends during the 1966-1979 and 1980-1994 intervals are similar, although declines in the Eastern BBS Region during the former interval are followed by a recovery during the latter. The survey- wide indices noticeably declined during the mid-1970s, perhaps as a result of unusually severe winter weather during that period (Survey-wide Annual Indices). These declines were followed by a slight recovery, and then another period of decline during 1982-1985. This temporal pattern of declines during the mid-1970s followed by a recovery is most evident in the Till Plains (S31) stratum (Till Plains Annual Indices). However, various other temporal patterns are exhibited elsewhere. In the few states with increasing populations, positive trends are most evident in Kansas during the 1970s while North Dakota populations have consistently increased since the mid-1960s (Kansas Annual Indices) (North Dakota Annual Indices). In states such as Nebraska and Oregon, population declines have been most evident during the 1980s (Nebraska Annual Indices) (Oregon Annual Indices). Pheasants in California and Colorado have experienced relatively consistent declines (Colorado Annual Indices). In Maryland, a dramatic decline occurred after 1972 (Maryland Annual Indices).
The trend map provides similar results. Increases are most evident from the Oklahoma panhandle north to Nebraska and in North Dakota (Trend Map). Declines are more widespread, including the Pacific coast, locally in the Rocky Mountain states, and a large area from Wisconsin and Illinois east to New England.
Trend estimates based on CBC data are similar. Most significant trends are declines, and these decreasing populations are found throughout the pheasant's range. Increasing populations are found along the edges of the range, where pheasants are neither numerous nor widely distributed.
Andrews, R., and R. Righter. 1992. Colorado birds. Denver Mus.
Natur. Hist., Denver, CO. 442 pp.
Brauning, D.W., ed. 1992. Atlas of breeding birds in Pennsylvania.
Univ. of Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, PA. 484 pp.
Dahlgren, R.B. 1988. Distribution and abundance of the Ring-
necked Pheasant in North America. Pp. 29-43 in D.L. Hallett,
W.R. Edwards, and G.V. Burger, eds. Pheasants: symptoms of
wildlife problems on agricultural lands. North Central Sec.,
Wildlife Soc., Bloomington, IN.
Peterjohn, B.G. 1989. The birds of Ohio. Indiana Univ. Press,
Bloomington, IN. 237 pp.
Stewart, R.E. 1975. Breeding birds of North Dakota. Harrison
Smith, Lund Press, Minneapolis, MN. 295 pp.