Class: Aves

Order: Galliformes

Family: Phasianidae

Genus: Phasianus

Species: colchicus

Ring-necked Pheasant

Phasianus colchicus

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Description

Range and Distribution

Reproductive characteristics

Habitat Requirements

Diet

Predators

Management

Literature Cited

Some predators of ring-necked pheasant include red foxes (Vulpes), grey foxes (Urocyon), Cooper’s hawk (Accipiter cooperii), Red-tailed hawk (Buteo), Great horned owls (Bubo virginianus) (Johnsgard 1999; 52-53). Others include mink (Mustela vison), weasel (Mustela spp.), striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis), raccoon (Procyon lotor), domestic cat (Felis domesticus), opossum (Didelphis virginiana), fox snake (Elaphe vulpine), and bull snake (Pituophis sayi) (Giudice and Ratti 2001). Ring-necked pheasants are most susceptible when in the egg or during its early stages of chick development (http://ndsuext.nodak.edu/extpubs/alt-ag/pheasan.htm   2000). Chicks often killed while in broods and sometimes more than one at a time by predators (Giudice and Ratti 2001). Ring-necked pheasant retreat from predators by flying, running, or crouching and hiding under cover (Giudice and Ratti 2001). They only fly short distances, but are swift runners (Giudice and Ratti 2001).

Disease in wild pheasant populations has been rarely reported, but can be fairly common in raised birds (Giudice and Ratti 2001). Diseases they are susceptible to include arboviruses, Newcastle disease, pox, salmonellosis, avian cholera, tuberculosis, and quail disease (ulcerative enteritis) (Giudice and Ratti 2001).

Ring-necked pheasants are a highly sought after game bird throughout the United States. In the Texas Panhandle the hunting season last only two weeks, from December 8^th to December 23^rd, while the Texas Coastal season last from November 3^rd to February 24^th (Jefferson 2001-2002). Many Texas hunters travel to the Panhandle during the two-week season to hunt this colorful game bird.