About Phasianus colchicus Linnaeus, 1758
Male common pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) have many different colour forms, ranging from nearly white to almost black in melanistic individuals. This colour variation comes from captive breeding, hybridisation between subspecies and with the closely related green pheasant, and repeated releases of mixed-source captive stock into the wild. For example, the widespread "ring-necked pheasants" found in Europe, North America and Australia are not a single distinct taxon; instead they form a stereotyped hybrid swarm. Common pheasants have a body weight range of 0.5 to 3 kg (1 to 7 lb). Males average 1.2 kg (2 lb 10 oz), while females average 0.9 kg (2 lb 0 oz). Their wingspan ranges from 56 to 86 cm (22 to 34 in). Adult males of the nominate subspecies Phasianus colchicus colchicus measure 60 to 89 cm (23+1⁄2–35 in) in total length, including a long brown-streaked black tail that makes up almost 50 cm (20 in) of the total length. Their body plumage is barred bright gold or fiery copper-red and chestnut-brown, with an iridescent green and purple sheen. The rump is sometimes uniformly blue. The wing coverts are white or cream, and black markings are commonly seen across the tail. The head is bottle green with a small crest and a distinctive red wattle. The nominate subspecies and some other races do not have a white neck ring. Two ear-tufts sit behind the face, giving the bird an alert appearance. Females (hens) and juveniles are far less showy, with dull mottled brown plumage across their whole bodies. Females measure 50 to 63 cm (19+1⁄2–25 in) long, including a tail around 20 cm (8 in) long. Juveniles look identical to females and have shorter tails, until young males begin growing their characteristic bright plumage on the breast, head and back at around 10 weeks after hatching. The green pheasant (P. versicolor) is very similar to the common pheasant, and hybridisation between the two often makes it hard to identify individual farmed birds. On average, male green pheasants have shorter tails than common pheasants, darker uniformly bottle-green plumage on the breast and belly, and always lack a white neck ring. Female green pheasants are darker than female common pheasants, with many black spots on the breast and belly. Various colour mutations are commonly found in common pheasants, most often melanistic (black) and flavistic (isabelline/fawn) individuals. Melanistic birds are quite commonly released for hunting in some areas, and are called "tenebrosus pheasant" or just "melanistic mutant". Common pheasants are native to Asia and parts of Europe. Their original native range extends from the eastern Black Sea and Caspian Sea east to Manchuria, Siberia, Korea, Mainland China, and Taiwan. They occupy woodland, farmland, scrub, and wetland habitats. In their native range, they live in grassland near water with small groups of trees, and tolerate both dry and humid soils. Extensively cleared farmland is only marginal habitat for common pheasants, and cannot support self-sustaining populations long-term. Common pheasants are gregarious, and form loose flocks outside of the breeding season. Captive-bred common pheasants often show strong sexual segregation in both space and timing of activity, with the two sexes using feeding stations at different times and locations throughout the day. In areas where they are hunted, common pheasants become timid after learning to associate humans with danger. They will quickly retreat to safety once they hear hunting parties arrive. Common pheasants are capable of flying short distances, but prefer to run on the ground. If startled, they will suddenly burst upward at high speed, making a distinctive "whirring" wing noise and often calling kok kok kok to alert other pheasants. Their cruising flight speed is 43–61 km/h (23–33 knots), but can reach up to 90 km/h (49 knots) when chased.
