Pheasant

Pheasants
Mongolian ringneck-type common pheasant cock
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Galliformes
Family:	Phasianidae
Genera
Ithaginis Catreus Rheinartia Crossoptilon Lophura Argusianus Pucrasia Syrmaticus Chrysolophus Phasianus † See also partridge, quail

Pheasants are a group of large birds in the order Galliformes. Males pheasants are usually larger and flashier than the females. They have feathers of bright colours and long tails.

There are 35 species of pheasant in 11 different genera. Native pheasants are restricted to Eurasia.

In many countries pheasant species are hunted, often illegally, as game. Several species are threatened by this and other human activities.

Chukar is the official National bird of Pakistan.

Implications

The fact is that "pheasant" is not the name of a particular bird. It is the common name for a type of bird which has independently evolved in many different places.

References

• 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.)
• Green-Armytage, Stephen. 2002. Extraordinary Pheasants. Harry N. Abrams, Inc., New York. ISBN 0-8109-1007-1.
• Madge and McGowan, Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse. ISBN 0-7136-3966-0

Other websites

• Birdlife International status page Archived 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine
• Illinois State Academy of Science (ISAS) Archived 2006-12-20 at the Wayback Machine
• Pheasants & Peafowl - Aviculture & Conservation Archived 2006-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
• Pheasant videos on the Internet Bird Collection
• Pheasant Information and Photos - South Dakota Birds and Birding
• Pheasant Conservation Archived 2007-08-23 at the Wayback Machine