SD State Symbols
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Updated: Jun 23rd, 2008 - 20:07:13 |
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State Bird of South Dakota
By USGS
Sep 7, 2006, 17:30 PST |
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Ring-necked Pheasant
Phasianus colchicus
Identification Tips:
- Length: 27 inches
- Chunky, long-tailed, round-winged, ground-dwelling bird
- Small head and thin neck
- Immatures similar to adult female
- Some subspecies have green body or white wings, but are very locally
introduced
Adult male:
- Green head
- Pale bill
- Unfeathered red facial skin around eye
- White ring around neck
- Golden plumage with bluish and greenish iridescence and black spots
scattered throughout
- Long, pointed, golden tail feathers with black barring
- Spurred legs
Adult female:
- Buffy brown head and underparts
- Dark brown back with paler edgings and centers
- Black spots and bars scattered about head, neck and flanks
- Long, buff-brown, pointed tail
- Lacks spurs
Similar species:
Adult male unmistakable. Female similar to a number of species of female
grouse but has a much longer, pointed tail and bare legs. Female Sharp-tailed
Grouse also has a pointed tail but is shorter-necked, has a slight crest,
has white outer tail feathers, a shorter tail and feathered legs. Female
Sage Grouse has a dark belly patch and feathered legs.
Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.
Source: USGS
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