Common Pheasant Bird Information & Facts
The common pheasant was introduced to many parts of Europe in the Middle Ages. It quickly became acclimatized and was soon a common game bird, autumn pheasant shoots remaining popular to this day. Other subspecies from China were later introduced into Europe, where they interbred.
Length: Male — 79 cm, female — 60 cm. Marked sexual dimorphism.
Voice: The male’s courting call is a harsh ‘korrk-kok’.
Size of Egg: 39.0—51.1 X 32.4—37.6 mm.
Common Pheasant Bird Habitat
The pheasant is generally found in light woods, field groves, thickets beside the water, and also in large parks. It is particularly abundant in lowlands but is common also in the hill country. It is a resident bird, remaining in its territory throughout the year. During the spring courting season, the cock utters his characteristic harsh note with head held erect, usually following this with a bout of wing fluttering.
With a short hopping motion, Common Pheasant then circles a chosen hen or engages in battle with other cocks. After the courting season, he pays no further attention to the hen or the young.
Breading and Family
The Common Pheasant hen scrapes a simple hollow in the ground, which she lines with dry leaves or grass, and then lays 8 to 15 eggs which she incubates alone, generally for a period of 24 to 25 days. The chicks begin to fly at the age of two weeks and roost in the treetops with the hen.
The diet consists of various seeds, berries, green plant shoots, insects, worms and molluscs. In winter it is necessary to put out food for pheasants wherever they occur in greater numbers. Many countries have established large pheasant preserves, where the birds are given partial freedom or kept in aviaries.
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https://www.birdsinfo.org/woodcock/