Male Ring-necked Pheasant in habitat – Nikon D200, f6.3, 1/640, ISO 400, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited
Ring-necked Pheasants are colorful upland game birds that are native to Asia and were introduced into North America for recreational hunting purposes and now occur widespread across southern Canada and in many areas of the U.S. except for some of the southern states.
Their preferred habitats include fallow fields, hedgerows, mixed agricultural lands, wooded river bottoms and marshes. This male was photographed a few years ago at Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area in northern Utah during the winter not long after a snow storm. I wish I hadn’t clipped the tail because I loved this wintry setting.
They are very colorful birds!
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to view more of my Ring-necked Pheasant photos plus facts and information about this species.
Hi! As a young girl I saw these beautiful birds and enjoyed the call they made! Great image!!!!
Beautiful Mia. Carol
Thank you Carol!
I agree so much with Bob’s comment. It hurts to see such a short-lived beauty.
Thanks Maria, they really are beautiful.
Even though they are introduced, they are beautiful!
Thanks Charlotte, I agree!
Lovely photo! We occasionally hear their distinctive call in our hedgerow which is next to a wheat field. I always wish them well. Close to where I live there is a gun club. They raise these beauties in cages to maturity and release them to be hunted. Sadly, very few escapees live a full life.
Thanks much M. I love to hear them but don’t like thinking about them being killed.
Absolutely stunning! Perfect in the snow as well. Brings back many happy memories (grew up in SD hunting pheasant) and the knowledge I’ve yet to get a good shot of one.
Hi Sherry, I understand that SD has the Ring-necked Pheasant as their state bird. Thanks for commenting.
Wow Mia that is a beautiful setting!
Pheasants are such quirky birds; I wish they turned up in Arizona.
Lovely shot
Thank you Laurence, the setting sort of reminds me of a diorama.
He is a luxury to see, I wish they weren’t used as game for the rich. Great photo Mia.
Thank you Bob, they have such fascinating plumage patterns that I find it hard to resist photographing them.