Common pheasant was first discovered in the territory of the ancient Caucasus. Hence its second name is the Caucasian pheasant. It is not known for certain how, but the bird was brought to other countries, and today it can be found in many parts of the world. It was partially domesticated, and they also learned how to breed hybrid breeds by crossing representatives of different species and even genera of the Pheasant family.
Origin of the name
The name of the largest representatives of the Chicken order is associated with the Georgian river Rioni, more than 300 km long, on which several hydroelectric power stations are located today. The ancient Greeks called her Phasis. Probably, it was the discovery of these birds on the banks of this river that gave them such a name.
According to another version, the pheasants were called so after they first saw them in the vicinity of the city with the same name. In the 6th century, the Carians founded the colony of Phasis on the south bank of the Phasis River, which was the easternmost city of the Pontus region and a trading center.
Varieties of the genus Pheasants
The division of the Pheasant genus into two species is highly controversial, sincenot all ornithologists agree that the common pheasant and the green pheasant are two separate species. Some of them believe that the latter is a subspecies of the former. The green pheasant is now found in Japan, North America and Hawaii, and is significantly smaller in size than the common pheasant.
On the territory of the CIS countries, green pheasants are not found, but ordinary pheasants are common. They can also be seen in the North Caucasus and Transcaucasia, in the countries of Central Asia and the Far East. In some zones, one of more than 30 subspecies of the common pheasant lives, in others - several at once.
Subspecies of common pheasant
Some of the more than 30 subspecies of the common pheasant were previously considered separate species of the Pheasant genus. However, a detailed study of the birds helped to find out that they all belong to ordinary pheasants and differ mainly in one color, with the differences most pronounced in males. Pheasants that have more dramatic differences, such as long feathers on their ears or chest, belong to other genera of the Pheasantidae family.
The Transcaucasian pheasant has a green head, light brown wings, purple chest and neck. In the North Caucasian, unlike the previous one, a brown or brown spot is located on the belly. The Tajik pheasant is endowed with a black-green chest and a yellow-red upper body. One of the subspecies - the hunting pheasant - is the result of the creative introduction of man. It was created by crossing the Transcaucasian and Chinese subspecies.
Short description
Review of the common (Caucasian) pheasant includes a description of its size and appearance. The body of this bird is very close in structure to the body of a chicken, from which the common pheasant differs in a very long tail. In the colors of males of its various species, there are green, purple, yellow, gold and other saturated colors. The skin around their eyes is bright red without feathers. Females, according to bird custom, have a nondescript pockmarked color in brown, sand or gray tones.
A male common pheasant can reach a length of 90 cm, of which 50 is an 18-feather striped tail, and the length of a female usually does not exceed 60 cm, half of which is the length of the tail. The maximum mark to which the weight of one ordinary pheasant can reach is 2 kg.
Lifestyle, reproduction
The common pheasant is able to move quite quickly on the ground, but to fly is a very difficult task for a bird, which it masters extremely rarely. This species of pheasant usually settles in thickets located near a water source. You can rarely meet them in the fields and in the forests. Males carefully guard their territory, sometimes even to death.
During the hottest part of the day, the birds take refuge in dense thickets, leaving morning and evening for meals. They also spend the night there. Until spring, pheasants live in separate same-sex flocks. In flocks of males, there can be hundreds of individuals, females form smaller flocks. In early spring, males separate from the flock, choose a female for themselves and draw attention to themselves with hoarse and loud singing.darlings and competitors, notifying them that the place is taken.
Pheasants nest for laying in the grass, usually found in bushes. Males do not take any part in incubation of eggs. All month the female takes care of herself and her offspring. From one to two dozen chicks are usually born before the onset of summer. In the wild, the bird leads a monogamous life.
Features of food
The diet of pheasants includes both plant and animal foods. With their powerful legs, they skillfully dig up various roots and seeds, as well as bugs and worms, in the ground. The pheasant menu may also include berries and shellfish. In autumn, pheasants gain weight, and in winter they quickly lose it, as they have to expend enormous efforts to get food. During a short winter day, they do not have time to get enough food so as not to use up their own fat reserves. Many individuals do not survive until spring.
All pheasants have many enemies. “Worm - pheasant - fox” - this is how an approximate food chain looks with the participation of these birds. Common pheasant is eaten by foxes, coyotes, jackals, hawks, goshawks, jays, magpies, crows, birds of prey.
Captive breeding
Pheasant meat is valued more than chicken meat, besides, they carry eggs well. Farmers breed them in specially constructed cages, and people who do not have a farm usually make spacious enclosures. It is important to make sure that there are bushes or any structures in the territory where the bird lives, where itcould hide herself, and where her shy offspring could hide.
To breed common pheasants, you need to buy fertilized eggs or chickens, or purchase or catch a male and female of the same species. After that, caring owners carefully study the subspecies of the common pheasant they are dealing with in order to create optimal living conditions for it. No less carefully should you choose a daily diet for birds. The nutrition of pheasants plays an important role in the well-being of birds and their ability to reproduce.
Pheasants are madly in love with Colorado beetles, so they can be used to save planted potatoes without the use of pesticides. These birds are prone to stress, which can affect their he alth, ability to lay eggs and breed. They can become agitated due to sudden movements around, due to a change of owners or an established regime.
Features of pheasant hunting
Pheasant hunting is not allowed everywhere. In the spring, a widespread ban is imposed on their capture or shooting. Usually hunting is done with a dog, often with a spaniel. Having caught the trail of a bird, the dog runs after it, and when the pheasant takes off, the hunter shoots. The dog looks for a dead or wounded bird in the thickets and carries it to the owner. Pheasant hunting is carried out only in the morning and evening segment of the day, when the bird leaves the secluded corner in which it lives.
Pheasant hunting is very popular in many parts of the world. Sports interest, as well as the great taste of meat, have developed such a great interest in this activity. ATantiquity, when there was a question about what would be served at the royal table: an ordinary pheasant or an ordinary chicken, the choice always fell on the first. It was served on a platter in full plumage.
Common pheasants are brightly colored but not as beautiful as other members of the Pheasantidae family, such as the golden or eared pheasant. But this species is the fastest in running. For birds, this is certainly a big plus, but for hunters of their valuable meat, this, of course, is a huge minus. Pheasants do well in captivity if the enclosure has sufficient space and secluded thickets or special buildings for privacy.
