Ring-necked pheasant
Phasianus colchicus
Identification Tips:
- Chunky, long-tailed, round-winged, ground-dwelling bird
- Small head and thin neck
- Immatures similar to adult female
- Some subspecies have green body or white wings, but are very locally
introduced
Adult male:
- Green head
- Pale bill
- Unfeathered red facial skin around eye
- White ring around neck
- Golden plumage with bluish and greenish iridescence and black spots
scattered throughout
- Long, pointed, golden tail feathers with black barring
- Spurred legs
Adult female:
- Buffy brown head and underparts
- Dark brown back with paler edgings and centers
- Black spots and bars scattered about head, neck and flanks
- Long, buff-brown, pointed tail
- Lacks spurs
Similar species:
Adult male unmistakable. Female similar to a number of species of female
grouse but has a much longer, pointed tail and bare legs. Female Sharp-tailed
Grouse also has a pointed tail but is shorter-necked, has a slight crest,
has white outer tail feathers, a shorter tail and feathered legs. Female
Sage Grouse has a dark belly patch and feathered legs.