 Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus). Male. Taken at Otmoor, Oxon., on February 19th 2017. Male. Taken at Otmoor, Oxon., on February 19th 2017. (1/400th sec at f11. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings)  Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus). Female. Taken on Otmoor, Oxon., on May 14th 2018. Female. Taken on Otmoor, Oxon., on May 14th 2018. (1/800th sec at f11. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings) Description L: 70 - 90 cm (m), 55 - 70 cm (f). WS : 80cm The Pheasant was introduced from Asia as a game bird. The male has many colour forms, ranging from nearly white to almost black in some melanistic examples. These are due to captive breeding and hybridization. The female is much less showy, with a duller mottled brown plumage all over. It can be found thoughout the British Isles. It breeds in farmland with cover such as copses and dense undergrowth, scrubby thickets and conifer plantations. Nests are made on the ground. It is widely bred as a game bird in Britain, with around 38 million being released each year for the four-month shooting season. The effect of this is that birds escape into the wild all the time. The UK breeding population is estimated at 1.8 to 1.9 million pairs. Sightings | 17-Apr-2024 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 04-Apr-2024 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) | | 26-Mar-2024 | : | Aston, Oxon | (1) | | 27-Feb-2024 | : | Aston, Oxon | (1) | | 18-Feb-2024 | : | Aston, Oxon | (1f) | | 15-Jan-2024 | : | Buckland Warren, Oxon | (4) | | 05-Jan-2024 | : | Aston, Oxon | (1) | | 01-Jan-2024 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (h) |
| | 26-Dec-2023 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (1) | | 12-Nov-2023 | : | Aston, Oxon | (3) | | 22-Sep-2023 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 24-May-2023 | : | Chimney Meadows, Oxon | (2) | | 20-May-2023 | : | Aston Upthorpe Downs, Oxon | (1) | | 18-May-2023 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) | | 28-Apr-2023 | : | Aston, Oxon | (1) | | 15-Apr-2023 | : | Aston, Oxon | (1) | | 07-Apr-2023 | : | Blowingstone Hill, Oxon | (1) | | 26-Mar-2023 | : | Aston, Oxon | | | 27-Feb-2023 | : | Aston, Oxon | (1) | | 23-Feb-2023 | : | Aston, Oxon | (1) | | 22-Feb-2023 | : | Aston, Oxon | (1) | | 30-Jan-2023 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (2m,7f) | | 17-Jan-2023 | : | Aston, Oxon | (1) | | 15-Jan-2023 | : | Buckland Warren, Oxon | (1) | | 09-Jan-2023 | : | Aston, Oxon | (1) | | 08-Jan-2023 | : | Aston, Oxon | (1) | | 06-Jan-2023 | : | Aston, Oxon | (1) |
| | 22-Nov-2022 | : | Aston, Oxon | (1f) | | 31-Oct-2022 | : | Aston, Oxon | (1) | | 27-Oct-2022 | : | Flamborough Head, E. Yorks | (1) | | 26-Oct-2022 | : | Bempton Cliffs, E. Yorks | (2) | | 16-Sep-2022 | : | Radley Lakes, Oxon | (1) | | 30-May-2022 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1f) | | 18-May-2022 | : | Aston, Oxon | (1m) | | 05-May-2022 | : | Gilfach, Powys | (1f) | | 01-May-2022 | : | Aston, Oxon | (1m) | | 29-Apr-2022 | : | Aston, Oxon | (2m) | | 23-Apr-2022 | : | Aston, Oxon | (1m) | | 13-Apr-2022 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1m,2f) | | 05-Apr-2022 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1f) | | 03-Apr-2022 | : | Buckland Warren, Oxon | (2m,1f) | | 25-Mar-2022 | : | Aston, Oxon | (1m) | | 23-Mar-2022 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1m,2f) | | 19-Mar-2022 | : | Aston, Oxon | (1m) | | 07-Feb-2022 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (4f) | | 31-Jan-2022 | : | Wells Farm, Oxon | (2) | | 05-Jan-2022 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1m,9f) |
| | 24-Dec-2021 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1m) | | 12-Dec-2021 | : | Lower Radley, Oxon | (4m) | | 09-Dec-2021 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (2m,4f) |
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