Ring-necked Pheasant –
The ring-necked pheasant is striking, but when surrounded with snow something magical happens. Their shiny green neck and bit of red around their eye, makes them seem like a snow god rather than just a bird. They don’t fit in…and yet they do.
Pheasants are native to China, but have been in America for over 150 years. They have naturalized and flourished in numerous habitats, despite jumping continents. On the Texas plains they do best in playa lakes. The cover and forage hold them year round when other temporary cover, like milo fields, goes through seasonal changes.
Male pheasants (roosters) have green, yellow, white, red, bluish-purple, and spots of tan and black on them. The females are just – brown. Many times they flush from right under your feet. The roosters cackle like mad as they explode from the ground into the air. I’d like to take one with my bow, like old Fred Bear used to. I’ve tried. The pheasants are pretty safe for now.
