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| Partridges, Quails and PheasantsPheasantPhasianus colchicus |
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En. Pheasant, Da. Fasan, Du. Fazant, Fi. Fasaani, Fr. Faisan de chasse, Ge. Fasan, It. Fagiano comune, No. Fasan, Sp. Faisán vulgar, Sw. Fasan
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(many
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hi-res
lo-res
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(2100KB)
(2100KB)
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22 secs
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adult males on ground, Yorkshire, September.
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hi-res
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female on ground, West Sussex, June.
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(the
text below is an abridged version of the extensive birdfile feature
available in full on all our CD-ROM
Guides)
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The male is unmistakable with his reddish plumage, glossy green head and extravagantly long tail. The female is less striking due to her need for better camouflage but her long spiky tail separates her from all other gamebirds. |
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Breeds and winters on farmland, woods, fields and scrub. |
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The species was probably introduced into Britain by the Normans in the 11th Century. It is now an extremely common bird, present throughout most of Britain, although largely absent from north-west Scotland, the Outer Hebrides and Shetland. |
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Easily located in much of Europe although it is suggested that only the birds in the Caucasus mountains of Turkey can be counted as truly wild. |
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| In Britain there are thought to be about 1500 000 breeding males and 1 600 000 breeding females plus a further 530 000 males and in Ireland 570 000 breeding birds. The wild winter population in Britain is probably about 8 000 000 birds. About 45% of these are shot each winter with the other half dying from other causes. |
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| Estimates are difficult, but over 3l million breeding pairs must live across much of western and central Europe where they are bred for sport. |
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©BirdGuides
1999
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