Species: Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
Family: Pheasants, Partridges, Grouse, et al (PHASIANIDAE)
Category: Birds
Location: Widespread
A. Birds
More extensive information on birds can be found in a separate blog post.
B. Pheasants, Partridges, Grouse, et al (PHASIANIDAE)
This is one of our most ancient bird families, containing many heavy, ground-living species, with either cryptic or brightly-coloured plumage. They often have crests, bare skin or wattles on their faces. They are often bred on shooting estates, to give pleasure to those who delight in murdering our precious wildlife. Those responsible for this annual slaughter refer to them as ‘gamebirds’, although it is a game without fair competition.
C. Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
Pheasants of all species have strong sexual dimorphism, and the larger male of the British pheasant has rich chestnut, golden-brown, and black markings on the body and tail, a dark green head, and red face wattling. Females are mottled with paler brown and black, which serves to camouflage them when nesting and caring for their young. The crowing call and noisy flapping of wings are distinctive sounds when a pheasant is disturbed and takes ponderously to the air. Males often have a harem of two or three females. With an estimated 2 million breeding females in the UK its conservation status is GREEN.
Images
Pheasant
Female Pheasants are mottled with paler brown colourings (than the males). This serves to camouflage them when nesting and caring for their young.
