View source for Pheasant

{{Short description|Bird in family Phasianidae}}
{{About|the animal|other uses}}
{{distinguish|Peasant}}
{{More citations needed|date=August 2020}}
{{Paraphyletic group
| auto = yes
| image = Pheasant.jpg
| image_caption = Mongolian ringneck-type<br />[[common pheasant]] Male
| parent = Phasianidae
| includes = *''[[Ithaginis]]''
*''[[Pucrasia]]''
*[[Phasianini]]
*''[[Polyplectron]]''
*[[Argus (bird)|Argusianina]]
| excludes = *[[Rollulinae]]
*[[Lerwini]]
*[[Lophophorini]]
*[[Meleagridini]]
*[[Tetraonini]]
*[[Rhizotherini]]
*''[[Perdix]]''
*[[Coturnicini]]
*[[Gallini (bird)|Gallini]]
*[[Peafowl|Pavonina]]
*''[[Galloperdix]]''
*''[[Haematortyx]]''
*''[[Tropicoperdix]]''
}}
[[File:Pheasant Fowling Showing how to catch Pheasants Fac simile of a Miniature in the Manuscript of the Livre du Roy Modus Fourteenth Century.png|thumb|Pheasant fowling, "Showing how to catch pheasants", facsimile of a miniature in the manuscript of the "Livre du Roy Modus" (fourteenth century).]]
[[File:Catreus wallichii.jpg|thumb|Cheer pheasant pair in Himalaya, India]]
'''Pheasants''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|f|ɛ|z|ə|n|t|s}} {{respell|FEH|zənts}}) are birds of several genera within the [[family (biology)|family]] [[Phasianidae]] in the [[order (biology)|order]] [[Galliformes]]. Although they can be found all over the world in introduced (and captive) populations, the pheasant genera's native range is restricted to [[Eurasia]]. The classification "pheasant" is [[Paraphyly|paraphyletic]], as birds referred to as pheasants are included within both the subfamilies [[Phasianinae]] and [[Peafowl|Pavoninae]], and in many cases are more closely related to smaller phasianids, grouse, and turkey (formerly classified in [[Perdicinae]], [[Grouse|Tetraoninae]], and [[Meleagridinae]]) than to other pheasants.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=2021-05-01|title=A phylogenomic supermatrix of Galliformes (Landfowl) reveals biased branch lengths|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1055790321000245|journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution|language=en|volume=158|article-number=107091|doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2021.107091|issn=1055-7903|last1=Kimball|first1=Rebecca T.|last2=Hosner|first2=Peter A.|last3=Braun|first3=Edward L.|pmid=33545275|bibcode=2021MolPE.15807091K |s2cid=231963063|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

Pheasants are characterised by strong [[sexual dimorphism]], males being highly decorated with bright [[colour]]s and adornments such as [[wattle (anatomy)|wattles]]. 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 the [[UK]] they are a threat to endangered native adders.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/01/adder-extinct-across-britain-snake-threat-game-birds-release|title=Game birds 'could wipe out adders in most of Britain within 12 years'|work=Guardian newspapers|author=Nicolas Milton|date=1 Oct 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Madden |first1=J.R. |last2=Sage |first2=R.B. |title=Ecological Consequences of Gamebird Releasing and Management on Lowland Shoots in England: A Review by Rapid Evidence Assessment for Natural England and the British Association of Shooting and Conservation |url=https://consult.defra.gov.uk/gamebird-review/interim-2021-england-gamebird-release-licence/supporting_documents/Ecological%20Consequences%20of%20Gamebird%20Releasing%20and%20Management%20on%20Lowland%20Shoots%20in%20England.pdf |publisher=Natural England Evidence Review |date=2020}}</ref>{{Dubious|date=March 2023}}

The best-known is the [[common pheasant]], which is widespread throughout the world, in introduced feral populations and in farm operations. Various other pheasant species are popular in [[Aviary|aviaries]], such as the [[golden pheasant]] (''Chrysolophus pictus'').

==Etymology==
According to the ''[[Oxford English Dictionary]]'', the word "pheasant" ultimately comes from Phasis, the ancient name of what is now called the [[Rioni River]] in [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]].
It passed from Greek to [[Latin]] to French (spelled with an initial "f") then to English, appearing for the first time in English around 1299.<ref>{{Cite OED | pheasant }}</ref>

==Species in taxonomic order==
This list is ordered to show presumed relationships between species.
*Subfamily [[Phasianinae]]
**Tribe [[Blood pheasant|Ithaginini]]
***Blood pheasant (genus ''[[Ithaginis]]'')
****[[Blood pheasant]] (''I. cruentus'')
**Tribe [[Pucrasiini]]
***Koklass (genus ''[[Pucrasia]]'')
****[[Koklass pheasant]] (''P. macrolopha'')
**Tribe [[Phasianini]]
***Long-tailed pheasants (genus ''[[Syrmaticus]]'')
****[[Reeves's pheasant]] (''S. reevesi'')
****[[Elliot's pheasant]] (''S. ellioti'')
****[[Mrs. Hume's pheasant]] (''S. humiae'')
****[[Mikado pheasant]] (''S. mikado'')
****[[Copper pheasant]] (''S. soemmerringi'')
***Ruffed pheasants (genus ''[[Chrysolophus]]'')
****[[Golden pheasant]] (''C. pictus'')
****[[Lady Amherst's pheasant]] (''C. amherstiae'')
***Typical pheasants (genus ''[[Phasianus]]'')
****[[Green pheasant]] (''P. versicolor'')
****[[Common pheasant]] (''P. colchicus'')
***** Caucasus pheasants, ''Phasianus colchicus colchicus'' group
***** White-winged pheasants, ''Phasianus colchicus chrysomelas/principalis'' group
****** Prince of Wales pheasant, ''Phasianus colchicus principalis''
***** Mongolian ring-necked pheasants or white-winged ring-necked pheasants, ''Phasianus colchicus mongolicus'' group
***** Tarim pheasants, ''Phasianus colchicus tarimensis'' group
***** Chinese ring-necked pheasants, ''Phasianus colchicus torquatus'' group
****** Taiwan pheasant, ''Phasianus colchicus formosanus''
**Cheer pheasant (genus ''[[Cheer pheasant|Catreus]]'')
***[[Cheer pheasant]] (''C. wallichi'')
**Gallopheasants (genus ''[[Lophura]]'')
***[[Kalij pheasant]] (''L. leucomelanos'')
****White-crested kalij pheasant (''L. l. hamiltoni'')
****Nepal kalij pheasant (''L. l. leucomelanos'')
****Black-backed kalij pheasant (''L. l. melanota'')
****Black kalij pheasant (''L. l. moffitti'')
****Black-breasted kalij pheasant (''L. l. lathami'')
****William's kalij pheasant (''L. l. williamsi'')
****Oates' kalij pheasant (''L. l. oatesi'')
****Crawfurd's kalij pheasant (''L. l. crawfurdi'')
****Lineated kalij pheasant (''L. l. lineata'')
***[[Silver pheasant]] (''L. nycthemera'')
<!-- ***(''L. n. nycthemera'')
***(''L. n. lewisi'')
***(''L. n. annamensis'')
***(''L. n. engelbachi'')
***(''L. n. beli'')
***(''L. n. berliozi'')
***(''L. n. rufripes'')
***(''L. n. ripponi'')
***(''L. n. occidentalis'')
***(''L. n. beaulieui'')
***(''L. n. fokiensis'')
***(''L. n. whiteheadi'')
***(''L. n. omeiensis'')
***(''L. n. rongjiangensis'') [intraspecific taxonomy is shaky at best] -->
***[[Imperial pheasant]] (''L. imperialis'')
***[[Edwards's pheasant]] (''L. edwardsi'')
***[[Vietnamese pheasant]] (''L. hatinhensis'')
***[[Swinhoe's pheasant]] (''L. swinhoii'')
***[[Salvadori's pheasant]] (''L. inornata'')
****[[Hoogerwerf's pheasant]] (''L. i. hoogerwerfi)''
***[[Malayan crestless fireback]] (''L. erythrophthalma'')
***[[Bornean crestless fireback]] (''L. pyronota'')
***[[Bornean crested fireback]] (''L. ignita'')
****Lesser Bornean crested fireback (''L. i. ignita'')
****Greater Bornean crested fireback (''L. i. nobilis'')
***[[Malayan crested fireback]] (''L. rufa'')
***[[Siamese fireback]] (''L. diardi'')
***[[Bulwer's pheasant]] (''L. bulweri'')
**Eared pheasants (genus ''[[Crossoptilon]]'')
***[[White eared pheasant]] (''C. crossoptilon'')
***[[Tibetan eared pheasant]] (''C. harmani'')
***[[Brown eared pheasant]] (''C. mantchuricum'')
***[[Blue eared pheasant]] (''C. auritum'')
*Subfamily [[Pavoninae]]
**Tribe [[Pavonini]]
***Crested argus (genus ''[[Rheinardia]]'')
****[[Vietnamese crested argus]] (''R. ocellata'')
****[[Malayan crested argus]] (''R. nigrescens'')
***Great argus (genus ''[[Argusianus]]'')
****[[Great argus]] (''A. argus'')
**Tribe [[Polyplectronini|Polyprectronini]]
***Peacock-pheasants (genus ''[[Polyplectron]]'')
****[[Bronze-tailed peacock-pheasant]] (''P. chalcurum'')
****[[Mountain peacock-pheasant]] (''P. inopinatum'')
****[[Germain's peacock-pheasant]] (''P. germaini'')
****[[Grey peacock-pheasant]] (''P. bicalcaratum''
****[[Hainan peacock-pheasant]] (''Polyplectron katsumatae'')
****[[Malayan peacock-pheasant]] (''P. malacense'')
****[[Bornean peacock-pheasant]] (''P. schleiermacheri'')
****[[Palawan peacock-pheasant]] (''P. emphanum'')

===Previous classifications{{Anchor|Euplocamus}}===
''Euplocamus'' and ''Gennceus'' are older names more or less corresponding to the current ''Lophura''.
* ''Euplocamus'' was used, for example, by [[Allan Octavian Hume|Hume]] and [[Charles Henry Tilson Marshall|Marshall]] in their ''[[Allan Octavian Hume#Game Birds of India, Burmah and Ceylon (1879–1881)|Game Birds of India, Burmah and Ceylon]]'' (1879–1881).
* ''Gennceus'', was used, for example, by [[Frank Finn]] in ''[https://archive.org/stream/indiansportingbi00finn/indiansportingbi00finn_djvu.txt Indian Sporting Birds]'' (1915) and [https://archive.org/stream/cu31924016412631/cu31924016412631_djvu.txt Game Birds of India and Asia] (1911?).

These old genera were used for:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! 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 or [[white-crested kalij]] || ''E. albocristatus''|| ''G. albocristatus'' || || ''L. leucomelanos hamiltoni''
|-
| [[Nepal kalij]] || ''E. leucomelanus'' || ''G. leucomelanus'' || || ''L. leucomelanos leucomelanos''
|-
| Purple, Horsfield's or [[black-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 of ''L. nycthemera'' and ''L. l. lineata'' || || ''L. nycthemera andersoni'' (invalid)
|-
| [[Crawfurd's silver pheasant]] (or Crawford's? <!-- scanned Finn Sporting Birds says "Crawford" -->) || ''E. andersoni'' || considered a further cross of Anderson's and ''L. l. lineata'' || || ?
|-
| [[Crawfurd's kalij]] (same as C.'s silver pheasant?) || ? || || ''G. andersoni'' || ''L. leucomelanos crawfurdi'' <!-- considered the same as Anderson's? and what is Crawfurd's Kalij, then? -->
|-
| [[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''
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
*[[William Beebe|Beebe, William]]. 1918-22. ''A Monograph of the Pheasants.'' 1st edition in 4 volumes: H. F. Witherby, London. Reprint: 1990, Dover Publications.(4 volumes bound as 2). {{ISBN|0-486-26579-X}} and {{ISBN|0-486-26580-3}}. Republished as: ''Pheasants: Their Lives and Homes''. 2 vols. 1926. Single volume edition: [[New York Zoological Society]], 1936.)
*[[Stephen Green-Armytage|Green-Armytage, Stephen]]. 2002. ''Extraordinary Pheasants.''[[Harry N. Abrams, Inc.]], New York. Book {{ISBN|0-8109-1007-1}}.
* Madge and McGowan, ''Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse'' {{ISBN|0-7136-3966-0}}

==External links==
*[http://ibc.lynxeds.com/family/pheasants-partridges-phasianidae Videos of pheasants] in the Internet Bird Collection

{{Phasianidae|state=expanded}}

[[Category:Phasianidae]]
[[Category:Bird common names]]