(Credit: U. S. Geological Survey)

Ring-necked Pheasant - Phasianus colchicus

Identification Tips:

  1. Length: 27 inches
  2. Chunky, long-tailed, round-winged, ground-dwelling bird
  3. Small head and thin neck
  4. Immatures similar to adult female
  5. Some subspecies have green body or white wings, but are very locally introduced

Adult male:

  1. Green head
  2. Pale bill
  3. Unfeathered red facial skin around eye
  4. White ring around neck
  5. Golden plumage with bluish and greenish iridescence and black spots scattered throughout
  6. Long, pointed, golden tail feathers with black barring
  7. Spurred legs

Adult female:

  1. Buffy brown head and underparts
  2. Dark brown back with paler edgings and centers
  3. Black spots and bars scattered about head, neck and flanks
  4. Long, buff-brown, pointed tail
  5. 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.