Ring-necked Pheasant (Common Pheasant)

The Ring-necked Pheasant is a large, ground-dwelling game bird. Males are brilliantly colored with iridescent copper and green plumage, a white neck ring, and an exceptionally long, barred tail. Females are a mottled, cryptic brown. They are famous for their explosive, noisy flush when startled.

Warm buff-brown background crossed with striking, evenly spaced black or dark brown transverse bars along the entire length.

Pennaceous vane structure with closely interlocked barbs and barbicels, firm and intact along the shaft.

Strong, prominent central rachis that is pale greyish-brown on the dorsal side; barbs are densely arranged at a sharp angle along the shaft.

Smooth, firm, and matte in appearance with a rigid vane capable of withstanding friction against vegetation during ground foraging.

Central tail feather (retrix), likely one of the main central deck feathers given its great length and distinct transverse barring pattern.

Extremely long, tapered shape with distinctive black or dark brown horizontal barring against a tan to warm brown background.

Agricultural fields, brushy hedgerows, scrubland, open woodlands, and marshes, particularly near grain crops.

Native to Asia, but widely introduced and established across Europe (including the UK) and North America.

Acts as both a seed predator and dispersal agent, and serves as prey for medium to large mammalian and avian predators.

Grey Partridge feathers are much smaller and differently patterned; female Capercaillie or Black Grouse have different barring and coloration.

Despite being a British icon of the countryside and game shooting, the Ring-necked Pheasant is an introduced species originally from Asia, first brought to Britain by the Romans or Normans.

Widely used in traditional British and European game shooting, fly-tying for fishing lures, and decorative crafts due to its striking pattern.

Look along woodland edges, game preserves, and hedgerows where pheasants roost or dust-bathe. Their exceptionally long barred tail feathers are unmistakable.

Good condition, showing minor wear at the edges but overall intact barbs and a strong rachis with no major breakage.

Blenheim Oxfordshire