Pheasant

The ring-necked pheasant is the most familiar pheasant in the United States and is native to Asia. Mature roosters usually weigh about 2–3 pounds, while hens commonly weigh about 1.5–2.5 pounds. Roosters are colorful, with green heads, red facial wattles, copper bodies, white neck rings in many forms, and long tails, while hens are mottled brown and well camouflaged. Pheasants are ground-dwelling birds that feed on seeds, grain, insects, and vegetation. They were introduced into the United States in the 1800s, especially during the 1880s, and became established as one of the country’s most important upland gamebirds.