Male Ring-necked Pheasant running down a snow bank, northern Utah

 Male Ring-necked Pheasant running down a snow bank – Nikon D300, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited or called in

Ring-necked Pheasant males are far more colorful than the females and in snow they seem even more vividly colored. These upland game birds are foraging for food in the open right now because the deep snow has buried their food and I have been seeing them feeding along the road where the snow has been plowed or very close to vegetation where they can dig through the snow to find seeds from the plants.

Ring-necked Pheasant male on a snowy creek bank, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah

 Ring-necked Pheasant male – Nikon D300, f9, 1/1600, ISO 500, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 321mm, natural light, not baited or called in

Two days ago I posted a female Ring-necked Pheasant in the snow and mentioned that there were males nearby, this is one of the males.

One of my early childhood memories is of my grandfather using Ring-necked Pheasant feathers to make fishing flies, watching him tying the flies fascinated me.  I didn’t know then how much patience that required.

I normally see far more female Ring-necked Pheasants than males so I am always happy when I am able to find a male in good light and out in the open.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Ring-necked Pheasant photos plus facts and information about this species.