Description Common pheasant

flavistic hen



phasianus colchicus egg @ mhnt



skeleton mhnt

there many colour forms of male common pheasant, ranging in colour white black in melanistic examples. these due captive breeding , hybridization between subspecies , green pheasant, reinforced continual releases of stock varying sources wild. example, ring-necked pheasants common in europe, north america , australia not pertain specific taxon, rather represent stereotyped hybrid swarm. body weight can range 0.5 3 kg (1.1 6.6 lb), males averaging 1.2 kg (2.6 lb) , females averaging 0.9 kg (2.0 lb).

the adult male common pheasant of nominate subspecies phasianus colchicus colchicus 60–89 cm (24–35 in) in length long brown streaked black tail, accounting 50 cm (20 in) of total length. body plumage barred bright gold or fiery copper-red , chestnut-brown plumage iridescent sheen of green , purple; rump uniform blue. wing coverage white or cream , black-barred markings common on tail. head bottle green small crest , distinctive red wattle. p. c. colchicus , other races lack white neck ring. behind face 2 ear-tufts, make pheasant alert.

the female (hen) , juveniles less showy, duller mottled brown plumage on , measuring 50–63 cm (20–25 in) long including tail of around 20 cm (7.9 in). juvenile birds have appearance of female shorter tail until young males begin grow characteristic bright feathers on breast, head , @ 10 weeks after hatching.

the green pheasant (p. versicolor) similar, , hybridization makes identity of individual birds difficult determine. green pheasant males on average have shorter tail common pheasant , have darker plumage uniformly bottle-green on breast , belly; lack neck ring. green pheasant females darker, many black dots on breast , belly.

in addition, various color mutations commonly encountered, melanistic (black) , flavistic (isabelline or fawn) specimens. former rather common in areas , named tenebrosus pheasant (p. colchicus var. tenebrosus).