Pheasant

Males have rich chestnut, golden-brown and black markings on body and tail, with a dark green head and red face wattling.

Females are particularly well camouflaged, mottled with paler brown and black.

They are all indigenous to Asia, chiefly India. It is thought that the English pheasant was introduced from the Black Sea area before 1056.

More recent introductions have brought in a variety of races and breeds for sport shooting.  They have a habit of laying low often preferring to run through the woods but occasionally making you jump when they suddenly spook out of the undergrowth.

Pheasant (male)