Quick answer
The common pheasant is a large colourful game bird native to Asia, with the cock's iridescent green head, red face wattles, and long barred tail familiar across European and American hunting estates. Introduced worldwide for sport shooting, it weighs 0.8–1.5 kg (1.8–3.3 lb) and is Least Concern globally.
Key takeaway
The common pheasant is a large colourful game bird native to Asia, with the cock's iridescent green head, red face wattles, and long barred tail familiar across European and American hunting estates. Introduced worldwide for sport shooting, it weighs 0.8–1.5 kg (1.8–3.3 lb) and is Least Concern globally.
Common Pheasant overview
Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) is a bird listed here as Least Concern. Typical weight Cocks 0.8–1.5 kg; hens about half that; lifespan around 2–3 years in the wild (longer if not hunted).
Common Pheasant ecology
Diet: Omnivore — seeds, grain, insects, and berries. Habitat: Farmland, woodland edges, hedgerows, and grassland. Movement and social systems reflect those pressures across the native range.
Common Pheasants and people
Learn before you travel or keep related pets. Wild common pheasants are not toys; captive care needs species-specific husbandry.
Status and further reading
Conservation label in our guides: Least Concern. See the full Common Pheasant profile for taxonomy, FAQs, and related topic guides on this site.
Game bird introductions
Romans and later medieval hunters spread pheasants from Asia across Europe. Mass releases on shooting estates in Britain, the United States, and New Zealand sustain populations far beyond what natural reproduction alone would support — millions are released annually for sport.
Sexual dimorphism
Cocks are spectacularly coloured with iridescent plumage and long tails; hens are mottled brown for camouflage while incubating ground nests. Cocks crow and beat wings in display, sometimes fighting viciously during the breeding season.
Sources
Common Pheasant FAQs
What are key facts about common pheasants?
The common pheasant is a large colourful game bird native to Asia, with the cock's iridescent green head, red face wattles, and long barred tail familiar across European and American hunting estates. Introduced worldwide for sport shooting, it weighs 0.8–1.5 kg (1.8–3.3 lb) and is Least Concern globally.
What is the scientific name of the common pheasant?
Phasianus colchicus — used in research and conservation listings for common pheasants.
What do common pheasants eat?
Common Pheasants eat seeds, grain, insects, and berries, with seasonal and regional variation in Farmland, woodland edges, hedgerows, and grassland.
Where do common pheasants live?
They are associated with Farmland, woodland edges, hedgerows, and grassland. Local presence depends on food, cover, and human land use.
What is the conservation status of common pheasants?
Listed in our guides as Least Concern. Check the IUCN Red List and national assessments for the latest formal category.