Key information
Pheasants are large, long-tailed gamebirds. The males have rich chestnut, golden-brown and black markings on their bodies and tails, with a dark green head and red face wattling. Females are mottled with paler brown and black.
They were introduced to the UK long ago and more recent introductions have brought in a variety of races and breeds for sport shooting.
What they eat:
Seeds, grain, shoots and insects.
Measurements:
- Length:
- 53-89cm
- Wingspan:
- 70-90cm
- Weight:
- 1,000-1,700g (male); 750-1,200g (female)
Population:
- UK breeding:
- 2.3 million females
Identifying features:
This bird species has different identifying features depending on sex/age/season.
Pheasant (male)
Pheasant (female)
