SBSG - Pheasant

Birds and Habitats in the SBSG area.
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Pheasant

Female Pheasant on the nest
Photograph Copyright © Carl Corbidge

The population levels of many of our game-birds are certainly kept artificially high for shooting interests and the Pheasant is no exception. It can be seen [or heard] in many of our woodlands and is widespread in farmland areas. In addition, there is evidence of increasing numbers on our moorland edges as indicated, for example, by a site record of 7 at Redmires on 18th October 2000 [see below for further details]. The males, of course, are one of the most colourful and exotic birds in the Sheffield area. On close inspection, however, you may have noticed that plumages are quite variable. There are many races and clinal variations of Common [or Ring-necked] Pheasant plus Ring-necked / Green Pheasant hybrids, and introduced birds are not always of the same race or of pure stock. These photographs of females on the nest were taken by Carl Corbidge [above] and John Rochester [below], both taken in summer 2000.

Female Pheasant at the nest, summer 2000
Photograph Copyright © John Rochester

This male Common Pheasant [below and bottom] was in 'Hammonds' Field' at Redmires on 24th June 2001. It was father to 4 chicks and held one of three pheasant territories in the Redmires area that year, including one with a melanistic male. This was only the second time that breeding was confirmed at Redmires, although with calling males more regular in recent few years it is likely that they have bred more regularly but unproven. It is noticeable that this bird appears to have no semblance of a white neck-ring. Both of the following photographs were taken by Richard Hill. Last updated 23rd July 2003

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