SD State Symbols
State Bird of South Dakota
By USGS
Sep 7, 2006, 17:30 PST

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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