Ring-necked pheasants are found throughout much of the world, having been introduced as a game bird to many areas. They are native to Asia but have been successfully introduced to North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and elsewhere. In their native range they are found in countries like China, Mongolia, Korea, Japan, and southeast Russia.
Native Range
The ring-necked pheasant is native to Asia, including:
- China
- Mongolia
- Korea
- Japan
- Southeast Russia
Within their native Asian range, ring-necked pheasants inhabit open woodland, forest edges, shrubland, grassland, agricultural areas, and wetlands. They prefer landscapes with a mix of cover and open areas. Their native habitat provides shelter from predators as well as open areas for feeding on seeds, leaves, roots, insects, and other invertebrates.
China
China makes up a significant portion of the ring-necked pheasant’s native range. They are found throughout much of central, eastern, and southern China. Their range covers 17 provinces and autonomous regions including Jiangsu, Anhui, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, and Sichuan among others. Within China, ring-necked pheasants inhabit agricultural areas, grasslands, brush, woodlands edges, and wetlands.
Mongolia
Mongolia is also part of the native range of ring-necked pheasants. They are found across many regions of Mongolia apart from the southern Gobi Desert. Their habitat includes agricultural fields, wetlands, riparian areas, grasslands, and open woodlands. Ring-necked pheasants are most abundant in central and northeastern Mongolia.
Korea
The Korean peninsula is within the native territory of ring-necked pheasants. In North Korea, they are distributed across most of the country. In South Korea, their range has decreased but they are still present across most provinces and islands. Ring-necked pheasants inhabit forests, shrublands, grasslands, marsh edges, and agricultural areas throughout Korea.
Japan
Ring-necked pheasants are native to the Japanese islands of Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku. They inhabit agricultural areas, grasslands, scrublands, open woodlands, and wetlands across these islands. Ring-necked pheasants have declined somewhat in Japan due to loss of habitat but remain common in many areas.
Southeast Russia
The southeast portion of Russia, including Primorsky Krai and Khabarovsk Krai, is part of the native range of ring-necked pheasants. They inhabit agricultural fields, meadows, riparian areas, grasslands, brushlands, and open woodlands in this region. Ring-necked pheasants are most abundant in agricultural and wetland habitats.
Introduced Range
Ring-necked pheasants have been successfully introduced as a game bird to many parts of the world, including:
- North America
- Europe
- Australia and New Zealand
- South America
- Hawaiian Islands
They have adapted well and formed self-sustaining wild populations across much of their introduced range. Ring-necked pheasants inhabit agricultural areas, grasslands, open woodlands, wetlands, and other open habitats in these regions.
North America
Ring-necked pheasants were introduced to North America in the late 1800s and are now naturalized across much of the continent. They are found in many areas of:
- United States
- Canada
- Mexico
Some states and provinces where they are abundant include Oregon, Washington, Idaho, North Dakota, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New York, Massachusetts, and Ontario.
United States
Ring-necked pheasants were first introduced to the United States around 1880. They are now well established across much of the country apart from portions of the Southwest. They thrive in agricultural areas of the Midwest and Great Plains as well as parts of New England, the Mid-Atlantic, Pacific Northwest, and California.
Canada
Ring-necked pheasants were brought to Canada around 1910 and are now widespread across much of southern Canada. They are abundant in the Prairie provinces, southern Ontario, Quebec, and the Atlantic provinces. Ring-necked pheasants inhabit agricultural fields, wetlands, grasslands, and open woodlands.
Mexico
A small population of ring-necked pheasants exists in north central Mexico as a result of birds dispersing from introductions in the southwestern United States. They are found in the states of Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas.
Europe
Ring-necked pheasants were widely introduced for hunting in Europe beginning in the 18th century. They are now naturalized and abundant across much of Europe, including:
- United Kingdom
- France
- Germany
- Austria
- Czech Republic
- Hungary
- Netherlands
Ring-necked pheasants inhabit agricultural areas, grasslands, wetlands, hedgerows, and open woodlands in their European range.
Australia and New Zealand
Ring-necked pheasants were brought to Australia and New Zealand in the 1860s for hunting. They quickly established wild populations, becoming abundant game birds in these countries. In Australia, ring-necked pheasants are now found in all states but are most common in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. They inhabit agricultural areas, grasslands, woodlands and wetlands. In New Zealand, ring-necked pheasants are present across both the North and South Islands.
South America
There are small introduced populations of ring-necked pheasants in parts of South America, including:
- Uruguay
- Argentina
- Chile
- Falkland Islands
These populations mostly originate from releases for hunting purposes in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Hawaiian Islands
Ring-necked pheasants were introduced to the Hawaiian Islands around 1868 and are now well established on several islands including Hawaii, Maui and Molokai. They thrive in grasslands and agricultural areas at higher elevations on the islands.
Habitat
Ring-necked pheasants utilize a variety of open habitat types including:
- Agricultural areas – corn and wheat fields, orchards, etc.
- Grasslands
- Wetlands – marshes, wet meadows, etc.
- Open woodlands and forest edges
- Scrublands and early successional habitat
- Riparian areas
- Parks, cemeteries, golf courses
Ideal habitat provides a mix of dense cover for nesting/escape and open areas nearby for feeding. Proximity to croplands is also beneficial as waste grain provides an important food source.
Key Habitat Features
Specific habitat features that ring-necked pheasants rely on include:
- Herbaceous cover – grasses, forbs, legumes – for nesting and escape cover
- Insect abundance – crucial food source for chicks
- Seed producing plants – important adult food source
- Croplands – waste corn, wheat, etc. provide high-energy food
- Wetlands – provide cover, insect food source
- Woodland edges – escape cover adjacent to feeding areas
Range Map
The native and introduced range of the ring-necked pheasant is extensive, spanning North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and beyond. Below is a range map showing their worldwide distribution:
![Ring-necked Pheasant Range Map](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Phasianus_colchicus_range_map.png/1024px-Phasianus_colchicus_range_map.png) |
Ring-necked Pheasant Native (green) and Introduced (purple) Range – Image Credit: Cephas/Wikimedia Commons |
As evidenced by the map, ring-necked pheasants now have a near worldwide distribution across the Northern Hemisphere as well as portions of the Southern Hemisphere thanks to introductions for hunting.
Population Status
Ring-necked pheasants have thriving, stable or growing populations across most of their extensive range. They are considered one of the most successful introduced game species. Current population trends include:
- Native Asian populations stable apart from some local declines
- Abundant and widespread introduced North American populations
- Populations stable or increasing in most of introduced European range
- Australian populations peaked mid-1900s but remain abundant game bird
- New Zealand populations stable, common game species
While global populations are secure, localized declines in native and introduced ranges can occur due to habitat loss and degradation. But ring-necked pheasants remain adaptable and populations typically rebound if habitat recovers.
Conservation Status
The conservation status of ring-necked pheasants is listed as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). They are not considered threatened or endangered anywhere across their extensive native and introduced range.
Conclusion
In summary, ring-necked pheasants are native to Asia but have been successfully introduced for hunting to North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere. They have adapted well and formed thriving wild populations across most of their introduced range. Ring-necked pheasants utilize a variety of open habitats including agricultural areas, grasslands, wetlands, open woodlands, and scrublands. They remain abundant and secure across most of their extensive native and introduced range. The ring-necked pheasant is considered one of the most successful introduced game species in the world.