Page 155 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

GAMEBIRDS
Order Galliformes Family Phasianidae Species Phasianus colchicus
Pheasant pale brown
body with bold
small, bulbous black markings
head on
narrow neck
often pale
rump
trailing green-black
tail head
MALE FEMALE
pointed
tail
white neck-ring
FEMALE glossy bronze or
copper breast
with dark spots
IN FLIGHT

white markings
orange-copper on reddish
flanks brown body MALE
(PALE VARIANT)
long, stiff,
tapered tail
MALE
(DARK FORM)
he Pheasant has been
Tintroduced into large parts of
Europe, and the males’ loud crowing calls at dusk are distinctive over
much of the countryside.The status and behaviour of this species are FLIGHT: low, short bursts with whirring wings,
difficult to specify because of the frequent presence of young birds trailing tail; explosive escape from underfoot.
reared and released, unprepared for life in the wild, to be shot. WHIRRING WINGS
“Wild” birds frequently resort to marshy, reedy places, The call of the richly patterned male
as well as woodland edges where they Pheasant is followed by a sudden
are most familiar and characteristic. burst of wingbeats that create a very
VOICE Loud, explosive corr-kok! with brief, loud whirring sound.
sudden whirr of wings; also loud
clucking in flight.
NESTING Hollow on ground, under
overhanging cover such as brambles,
unlined or with thin scattering of grass
stems; 8–15 eggs; 1 brood;April–July.
FEEDING Takes all kinds of food, from
seeds and berries to insects and lizards,
from ground in its powerful bill.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Very local in Spain, Portugal, and
GREY PARTRIDGE BLACK GROUSE 2 S Scandinavia but widespread
similar to 2; similar to 2;
see p.151 see p.149 through mid- and W Europe.
Found widely in varied habitats,
chiefly in very mixed countryside,
smaller in arable fields, woods, reedbeds,
heaths, and moorland edges.
shorter
legs shorter, Seen in the UK
round tail notched tail J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 52–90cm (20 1 ⁄2 –35in) Wingspan 70–90cm (28–35in) Weight 0.9–1.4kg (2–3lb)
Social Small flocks Lifespan Up to 7 years Status Secure
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