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| Pheasant | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Mongolian ringneck-type common pheasant Male | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Galliformes |
| Superfamily: | Phasianoidea |
| Family: | Phasianidae |
| Groups included | |
| Cladistically included but traditionally excluded taxa | |
Pheasants (/ˈfɛzənts/FEH-zənts) are birds of several genera within thefamilyPhasianidae in theorderGalliformes. Although they can be found all over the world in introduced (and captive) populations, the pheasant genera's native range is restricted toEurasia. The classification "pheasant" isparaphyletic, as birds referred to as pheasants are included within both the subfamiliesPhasianinae andPavoninae, and in many cases are more closely related to smaller phasianids, grouse, and turkey (formerly classified inPerdicinae,Tetraoninae, andMeleagridinae) than to other pheasants.[1]
Pheasants are characterised by strongsexual dimorphism, males being highly decorated with brightcolours and adornments such aswattles. Males are usually larger than females and have longer tails. Males play no part in rearing the young.
A pheasant's call or cry can be recognised by the fact it sounds like a rusty sink or valve being turned.
Pheasants eat mostly seeds, grains, roots, and berries, while in the summer they take advantage of insects, fresh green shoots, spiders, earthworms, and snails. However, as an introduced species, in theUK they are a threat to endangered native adders.[2][3][dubious –discuss]
The best-known is thecommon pheasant, which is widespread throughout the world, in introduced feral populations and in farm operations. Various other pheasant species are popular inaviaries, such as thegolden pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus).
According to theOxford English Dictionary, the word "pheasant" ultimately comes from Phasis, the ancient name of what is now called theRioni River inGeorgia.It passed from Greek toLatin to French (spelled with an initial "f") then to English, appearing for the first time in English around 1299.[4]
This list is ordered to show presumed relationships between species.
Euplocamus andGennceus are older names more or less corresponding to the currentLophura.
These old genera were used for:
| Vernacular | Hume & Marshall | Finn: Sporting Birds | Finn: Game Birds | Contemporary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vieillot's crested fireback | E. vielloti | Lophura rufa (sic) | L. ignita rufa | |
| Black-backed kalij | E. melanonotus | G. melanonotus | L. leucomelanos melanota | |
| Common orwhite-crested kalij | E. albocristatus | G. albocristatus | L. leucomelanos hamiltoni | |
| Nepal kalij | E. leucomelanus | G. leucomelanus | L. leucomelanos leucomelanos | |
| Purple, Horsfield's orblack-breasted kalij | E. horsfieldi | G. horsfieldi | L. leucomelanos lathami | |
| Lineated kalij | E. lineatus | G. lineatus also: Burmese silver pheasant | L. leucomelanos lineata | |
| Anderson's silver pheasant | ? | G. andersoni, considered hybrid ofL. nycthemera andL. l. lineata | L. nycthemera andersoni (invalid) | |
| Crawfurd's silver pheasant (or Crawford's? ) | E. andersoni | considered a further cross of Anderson's andL. l. lineata | ? | |
| Crawfurd's kalij (same as C.'s silver pheasant?) | ? | G. andersoni | L. leucomelanos crawfurdi | |
| Cuvier's kalij | ? | G. cuvieri | ? | |
| Oates's kalij | ? | G. oatesi | L. leucomelanos oatesi | |
| Whitehead's silver pheasant | ? | G. whiteheadi | ? | |
| Swinhoe's kalij | ? | G. swinhoii | L. swinhoii |