Ring-necked Pheasant (Common Pheasant)

These are secondary feathers from a Ring-necked Pheasant. The bird itself is a large, chicken-like bird; males are spectacular with iridescent green heads, red faces, and long pointed tails, while females are buff-brown for camouflage. Their flight is characterized by loud, frantic wingbeats and long glides.

Deep mahogany or dark brown central vane with a distinct pale cream or buff-colored leading edge (outer vane). Fine greyish mottling/vermiculation is visible near the plumulaceous base.

Mostly pennaceous and tightly interlocked for flight efficiency, transitioning to soft, plumulaceous barbs at the base near the calamus.

Smooth and somewhat stiff on the pennaceous portion with a matte finish; the basal downy section is extremely soft and airy.

High contrast between the dark inner vane and the pale buff outer edge; thick, light-colored rachis; downy gray mottled base.

Agricultural fields, grasslands, brushy verges, and forest edges where there is ample ground cover for nesting and foraging.

Native to Asia but widely introduced and naturalized across North America, Europe, and parts of Oceania as a game bird.

Primary consumer of seeds and insects; serves as a significant prey species for foxes, hawks, and owls in their introduced ranges.

Female Mallard secondaries (lack the buff edge, have a blue speculum nearby), or Ruffed Grouse feathers (usually have different barring patterns).

Pheasants are surprisingly fast runners and usually prefer to flee on foot, only taking to the air in an 'explosive' burst when cornered by a predator.

Excellent condition; the vanes are intact with no visible fault bars or heavy wear, suggesting a relatively recent molt.

It is a pheasant