The Ring-necked Pheasant is a very interesting bird. It is one of the worlds most hunted

birds, it has been introduced for that purpose to many regions, and is also common on

many game farms where it is commercially bred.

    

Ring-necked pheasant adult male is 24–35 inches in length including a tail of around 20 cm, and the adult female is 20–25 inches, also including the long tail.  They can be identified by his barred bright brown plumage and green, purple and white markings, with a white ring around its neck being seen in some but not all subspecies. The head is green with a small crest and distinctive red patches around the eyes. This pheasant has physical, behavioral and reproductive adaptations that enable it to survive, for example  male pheasants often have spurs which are used in battles for dominance.

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Around 30 million pheasants are released each year on shooting estates, it is widespread in distribution, although most released birds survive less than a year in the wild. It is a well-known game bird, among those of more than regional importance perhaps the most widespread and ancient one in the whole world. Their conservation status is currently at least concern. Ring-necked pheasants are native to Asia, and their original range extending from between the Black and Caspian Seas to Manchuria, Siberia, Korea, Mainland China and Taiwan. They mostly live in grasslands and fields, which can help them hide or sneak up on a predator without being seen.

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Ring-necked Pheasants feed solely on the ground but roost in sheltered trees at night. They eat a diet of grass, weeds, grains and insects. They also eat corn and soybeans. As for crops, pheasants eat berries, apples, oats, peas and alfalfa sprouts. During most seasons of the year, they rarely have trouble finding food to eat due to the diversity of their diet. Their competitors are other pheasants, but they rarely compete for food because there is plenty of it. Their predators are hawks, crows and owls,and they can also destroy nests and may kill adult birds but, no single predator gets more blame towards killing Red-neck Pheasants than coyotes. But when their predators attack, their ability to get away is their speed. Their normal flight speed is about 27 - 38 mph; however, when chased, they can fly up to 60 mph.

As you can see Ring-neck Pheasants are very intelligent birds. This beautiful game bird uses its powerful leg muscles to swiftly retreat to cover, taking 18 to 24-inch strides. A hardy, wily, game bird, the pheasant possesses keen survival instincts and an uncanny ability to escape; these attributes make it a favorite quarry among sportsmen.

 

Author:
Published: 02/2013
 

Sources: 
http://www.ehow.com/info_8463400_adaptations-ringnecked-pheasant.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Pheasant

http://www.avianweb.com/commonpheasants.html

http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4844067_pheasant-food.html

http://www.minnesotapf.org/page/1000/MN-Predators.jsp

http://www.gamebirdhunts.com/PheasantPhacts/PheasantTypes/tabid/58/Default.aspx

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Picture Credit:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Common_Pheasant_%28Hybride%29.jpg