Welcome to the British Wild Files, where you can find out all about British Species of mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, fish, insects, plants and fungi. Each Wild File will focus on one species and have information on vital statistics, appearance, ecology, behaviour, reproduction, location and conservation as well as much more.
Let’s kick off with our favourite ‘British’ bird (and the inspiration for our logo)…
Name: Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
Weight: 1.2kg (Male), 0.9kg (Female)
Length: 1.25M (Male), 75cm (Female)
Lifespan: 8-10 years in captivity.
Key Features: The male pheasant is a colourful and vibrant bird, with a golden brown mottled body, a dark green head, large red patches around it’s eyes and a white collar. If that wasn’t enough the bird also boasts short ear tufts on top of it’s head and several long, striped tail feathers that can reach up to 50cm! In comparison the female is somewhat ‘duller’. She is smaller, with a shorter tail and is a light mottled brown colour all over. This is because she needs camouflage whilst sitting on her eggs to hide from predators such as foxes. As the male has nothing to do with the nest, he does not need this camouflage. Chicks are yellow with brown stripes.
The Pheasant’s call is a two note ‘Carr Ccaaaarrrr‘. In the spring, males also follow this with a flurry of wing beats.
Where in Britain?: Pheasants are found right across Britain, but are originally from South-East Asia in countries such as China and Taiwan. These birds are now found across the globe as a game bird and were introduced to Britain (for the second time) around the 1830s and they have been the target of shooting sports ever since.
Habitat: The pheasant is a woodland bird but is also a common sight in farmland. It is not known what would happen to the British population if they weren’t supplemented by new birds each year but the birds seem to cope well with British weather.
Food: Pheasants feed on invertebrates, seeds and fruits. They only feed on the ground as this is where they spend most of their time.
Predators: In Britain the biggest dangers for Pheasants (other the humans) is the Red Fox and the domestic cat. Young Pheasants are also at risk from large birds of prey, such as Sparrowhawks.
Breeding: Males can often be seen shepparding a harem of females in the spring. Around 10 chicks hatch from the nest any time from April to June and will stay with their mother for several weeks thereafter.
Behaviour: Out of the breeding season, Pheasants form small flocks and are not aggressive to each other. It is worth noting that in early spring males have only got one thing on their minds and in their race to chase the females (or other males away!) they tend not to notice streets, roads and especially cars! You have been warned!
Conservation: Due to the success of the Common Pheasant as a game bird and their ability to breed very easily, the birds conservation status is Least Concern. They are still looked after though by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust.
Did You Know: Pheasants can be found in a variety of colour variants, including the stunning melanistic black pheasant.
Related Species: Golden Pheasant, Lady Amherst’s Pheasant, Green Pheasant
Don’t forget…
Leave a comment below with suggestions for the next Wild Files. If you’ve ever encountered Common Pheasant, why not share you’re story by leaving a comment below and sending any pictures to:
russ@naturetalksandwalks.co.uk
Take care, and stay on the wild side.
Russ
Dear sir
We have had a pheasant coming in the garden several times a day for months. He is male and started eating bird food, but we have fed him since then. He sometimes take food from our hand. For the last three weeks he has not been to see us and rather than meeting an untimely end we wondered whether there was some reason for this absence, being spring etc ! we really miss him.
Thanks Gloria Dale
We have quite a large country garden and have a family (male and up 6 females)
for the past 3 years. We feed them at the same time as all the other wild birds who range from Magpies, rooks, pigeons and just about every small bird you can think of. Although there are cats and foxes in the area our bird losses to predators are minimal.
I have a male pheasant who has been living around my chickens for the last two years. He was tame when he first appeared and now he will readily eat from my hand and sit in my knee! He gets into the chicken runs and steals their food despite having his own personal feeder. He talks to me when I’m getting his food, coo coo coo and shouts if I don’t hurry up! He would sleep with the hens in their sheds but unfortunately they always chase hisboff at bedtime. I’m very fond of him.