Common Pheasant

The national bird of Japan, also known from the tale of Momotaro.

Scientific name	Phasianus versicolor
English name	Common Pheasant
Japanese name	雉
Class	Aves
Order	Galliformes
Family	Phasianidae
Genus	Phasianus
Species	versicolor
Full length	58-81cm
Distribution	Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu

Common Pheasant Characteristics and Morphology

Males and females differ greatly in size and appearance. They have round, large bodies and long tails.

Male

Males can reach a total length of about 80cm. Their entire body is colorful and beautiful.
The head appears red, but this is due to the wattles around the eyes. The color of the underlying feathers is blue-green. The iris is yellow. The beak is light brown, short, and sharp. The throat is dark blue, and the body is green. Both colors are glossy. The wings are brown. The flight feathers have rows of white spots. The tail feathers are long, with light brown ground and brown lines. The legs are gray, thick, and strong.

Female

Females are smaller than males and are entirely brown.
The area around the eyes is bordered with light brown. From the neck to the chest and back, brown feathers are arranged like scales. The tail feathers are shorter compared to males.

Song

Their distinctive call is "kēēn kēēn," and this call is known as "horouchi."

Listen to the song

Common Pheasant Ecology

Habitat

They inhabit open areas such as forests, riverbeds, and agricultural land.

Food

They eat plants such as grass seeds and insects.

Life Cycle

During the breeding season, they mainly act in pairs, with the female raising the young. Polygyny may also occur.

Common Pheasant Photos

Common Pheasant Photos are introduced.
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Common Pheasant Behavior

They occasionally cry out loudly with a "kēēn" sound to mark their territory. They are also known for an action called "horouchi," in which they strike their wings against their body to make a flapping sound. They usually move by walking, and run away when they feel danger.

Common Pheasant Information

Naming

The scientific name "versicolor" means "changing in color" and is derived from the appearance of the male, which has diverse colors.

It is a bird that has been familiar in Japan since ancient times and is designated as the national bird. It is also a game bird and is released every year. Released pheasants have leg bands.

Common Pheasant Found Locations

Asakawa, Hachiōji

I found it in the open riverbed of Asakawa. Since it is a relatively conspicuous bird, you can find it while riding a bicycle. It was searching for food while walking on the ground and occasionally calling out loudly. The male's territories did not seem to overlap, and they were spaced at equal intervals along the river. Even if you approach within about 10m, it does not immediately run away, but it runs into the bushes when it notices people.

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