Ring-necked Pheasant Leaflet

The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service published this habitat management leaflet in 1999. Excerpt:

The ring-necked pheasant is a ground-dwelling, gallinaceous (chicken-like) bird of Asia first introduced into the United States prior to the 1800s. By the 1880s, wild ring-necked pheasants had become established in sustainable breeding populations within the United States and have remained one of the most popular and sought after upland game birds in central and northern regions of the country. . . . Also characteristic of the ring-neck is its ability to share similar niches with many native grassland and farmland community wildlife species. One exception has been its interaction with native prairie chickens – pheasant males can disrupt prairie chicken leks and hens may lay eggs in prairie chicken nests. Consequently, efforts to repatriate prairie chickens in some areas may require prior removal of pheasants.

This leaflet contains much detailed information related to habitat management for this species.

Citation: Natural Resources Conservation Service. 1999 (October). Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus). USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Fish and Wildlife Habitat Management Leaflet 10, 12 pp.