Common pheasant

Phasianus colchicus · The common pheasant is a bird native to Asia and the far southeast of Europe, and it has been widely introduced to other parts of the world as a game bird.

Also called Ring-necked pheasant, Blue-headed pheasant.

Common pheasant
Photo: Romzig, CC0
Common pheasant
Photo: Stephan Sprinz, CC BY 4.0
Common pheasant
Photo: Stephan Sprinz, CC BY 4.0

Taxonomy

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassAves
OrderGalliformes
FamilyPhasianidae
GenusPhasianus
SpeciesPhasianus colchicus

Where it lives

Native from the Caucasus to China and Korea; introduced to Europe and North America.

Fun facts

  • Pheasants usually cruise at 43–61 km/h, but when chased they can speed up to 90 km/h.
  • Pheasant chicks grow fast and can fly when they are only 12–14 days old.
  • The pheasant's genome is tiny: roughly one-third the size of the human genome, and in 2005 it was the smallest known among living amniotes.
  • Pheasants raised in other species' nests often bond with their foster parents and may even copy the mating behaviour of the host species.

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Facts and taxonomy adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).