Bird
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Size
53–89 cm (males much longer, due to tail)Males are about the size of a large chicken with a very long tail
Weight
0.9–1.5 kgRoughly the weight of a bag of flour
Lifespan
1–2 years typically in the wild; up to 7–8 in captivity
Top speed
Up to 60 km/h in short flight bursts
Rarity
Common
M vs F
Males (cocks) are brightly coloured with a red face and long tail; females (hens) are mottled brown and shorter-tailed for camouflage
Habitat
Farmland, woodland edges and hedgerows
Best time
Year-round; most visible in autumn/winter when releases boost numbers
Conservation
LC
💡 Did you know?
Male pheasants have a loud, croaky call and a whirring wing-clap you can hear before you even see them!
Most pheasants seen in the UK today descend from millions released annually for game shooting — true wild, self-sustaining populations are much smaller than the numbers suggest.
Often confused with
Red-legged Partridge (much smaller
no long tail)
Grey Partridge (smaller
rounder)
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