Male Ring-necked PheasantMale Ring-necked Pheasant Portrait- Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/2500, ISO 640, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited

Male Ring-necked Pheasants are a bold splash of rainbow colors against the white snow laying on the ground right now at Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area. Ring-necked Pheasants are not native to North America, the game birds were introduced from Asia in the 1880’s. I can remember inadvertently flushing them when I would walk on the dirt road to explore the woods behind my grandparent’s house in Michigan as a very young girl and enjoying being able to see their beautiful colors in flight. They are quite noisy when they take flight!

It was a slow morning for birds yesterday but when I spotted this male Ring-necked Pheasant out in the open I couldn’t resist taking some portrait shots of him especially since even when I zoomed back to 200mm I couldn’t fit him all into the frame. When given the opportunity I often try to take portrait images because it allows me to see the finer details of the face of the bird or even the melted snow on the bill of the male. Besides; there is no way I could get this close to a wild pheasant on foot!

Life is good.

Mia

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