Reproduction

How does the common pheasant produce its young?

Egg laying takes place between April and June.

Each clutch of eggs can produce between 6 and 15 chicks. The eggs are colored olive-brown. Their nest is a simple scrape on the ground which may be lined with small amounts of plant matter. Eggs are laid at a rate of one per day.

Instances of females laying eggs in the same nest have been recorded.

These eggs are incubated for 23-28 days. This process is solely undertaken by the female.

A single brood is produced each season but pairs will continue to lay until a clutch is successful.

Chicks leave the nest as soon as they dry and can fly short distances after just 12 days. They remain under the care of their mother for the first 10-12 weeks of life. Chicks are mostly self-feeding from birth.

Sexual maturity is reached within their first year of life.

Behavior

What does the common pheasant do with its day?

Common pheasants will roam in groups led by a single male with up to twelve females. During the breeding season males will fiercely defend their territory and their females.

Most of their foraging will take place on the ground but these birds can undertake short flights.

The male will produce a crowing call and both genders produce a harsh 'kuk-uk, kuk-uk, kuk-uk,' call.

In flight they average speeds of up to 60kmh (37.2mph). They may fly even faster when being chased.

These birds will take regular dust baths. In this they sweep dust in to their plumage. This assists with removing dead cells, excess oil and old feathers.

Credit: Public Domain

Predators and Threats

What is impacting the survival of the common pheasant?

A range of natural predators threaten the common pheasant. This includes mammals such as the red fox, badgers and coyotes, birds of prey such as hawks and owls and reptiles such as snapping turtles.

Ring-necked pheasants are highly common. The population is estimated to include over 8,000,000 individual birds.

This species is subject to hunting but large numbers are bred for this purpose. Habitat loss and uncontrolled hunting has proven a threat to the survival of certain subspecies.

Their introduction to a number of countries has helped to increase their population.

Quick facts

The white ring-collar of the males has given rise to the name ring-necked pheasant. Other names for this bird include the English pheasant or Chinese pheasant.

A number of subspecies are recognized with each having slight variations in plumage.