Common Pheasant(Common Pheasant) Photo: Estormiz · CC0 ↗
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Farmland birdsIntroduced or feral resident

Phasianus colchicus

Common Pheasant

A familiar long-tailed gamebird with introduced origins in Ireland.

A recording has not been added yet. Use the identification notes below for now.

I know this bird · Record a sighting Where to look & how to find it ↓

FIELDCRAFT · FIND WITH CARE

Finding guide

Habitat first

Choose the season, find the habitat, then watch patiently. Search guidance is not a measure of rarity or conservation status.

When to go
All year; distribution reflects introduced populations
Where to start
Scan fields and hedges from public rural roads and paths.
What to do when you arrive
From public rural routes, watch field and woodland edges for large ground birds. Males have striking long tails; females are cryptic. Do not enter rearing areas or private fields.

Habitat and behaviour reference: BirdWatch Ireland ↗ · The practical steps are editorial advice based on the references, not live sightings.

SPECIES NOTESSpecies notes
01

How to identify it

Long pointed tail and heavy body. Males are colourful with green head and red facial skin, often a white neck ring; females are mottled brown.

02

Habitat

Farmland, grassland, hedges and rural woodland edges.

03

Behaviour

Feeds on seeds and invertebrates on the ground, often running before taking flight.

04

When to look

All year; distribution reflects introduced populations

05

Where to look

Scan fields and hedges from public rural roads and paths.

Reference photos do not show every sex, age, season or geographic form; use the identification notes too.

Further reading:BirdWatch Ireland ↗ · Wikipedia ↗

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