Eunoia
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Pheasant
The Ring-necked Pheasant is an introduced game bird in British Columbia, originally brought from Asia for sport hunting. It is widely established in southern BC, particularly in agricultural areas, grasslands, and open fields, and is a popular target species for hunters.
Yellow Listed
Human Health Hazard
Conservation Status
Syilx
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Description
Adults are large, colorful game birds, with males measuring 50–90 cm in length, wingspans of 70–90 cm, and weighing 0.9–1.5 kg. Males are brightly colored with iridescent bronze, green, and gold feathers, a distinctive white neck ring, and red facial wattles. Females are smaller, dull brown with mottled patterns, providing camouflage while nesting.
Habitat
Ring-necked Pheasants prefer open grasslands, farmlands, meadows, and field edges, often near hedgerows, shrubs, or brush for cover. They roost on the ground and rely on dense vegetation for nesting and predator avoidance.
Food
They are omnivorous, feeding on seeds, grains, berries, insects, and small invertebrates. Foraging occurs primarily on the ground, where pheasants scratch and peck through leaf litter and soil. Agricultural crops such as wheat, corn, and sunflower are frequently used as food sources.
Social System, Activity & Movements
Ring-necked Pheasants are social outside the breeding season, forming loose flocks in winter, but are mostly territorial during breeding. Males establish display territories and attract multiple females, practicing polygynous mating.
Reproduction & Parental Care
Breeding occurs in spring, with females laying 8–15 eggs per clutch in shallow ground nests hidden in tall grass or brush. Incubation lasts about 23 days, with the female solely responsible for incubation and care. Chicks are precocial, leaving the nest shortly after hatching and foraging with the mother.
Natural Mortality & Predators
Eggs and chicks are vulnerable to foxes, raccoons, skunks, snakes, and birds of prey. Adults face raptors, coyotes, and regulated hunting. Predation is highest in the first few weeks of life, but adult pheasants rely on camouflage and vigilance for survival.
Credit
ChatGPT