Ring Necked (Common)Pheasant

[Stan Emmerson <>]

Re John Leonard's historical comments, I have over a number of years
observed female Common Pheasants in paddocks at Tumoulin near Ravenshoe in
North Queensland. The local farmers take no notice of them as they have been
there for years.  On 27 March 98 I observed a male Common Pheasant sitting
on a power pole stay wire just above the tall grass height after a heavy
morning dew.  It was drying its plumage & I got to within 40 metres of it
before it dived into the grass.  The plumage description of it was exactly
as the Pizzey & Knight book which I had with me at the time, ie. a clearly
defined white ring around its neck.  It was a very handsome male speciman &
I'm sure the females will be lining up to mate with him!  The females were
also as shown in this book.

Cheers, Stan