How far can a pheasant fly?
How fast can a pheasant fly?
How high can a pheasant fly?
How old can a pheasant be to fly?
Can all species of pheasants fly?
Pheasants are mostly associated with the ground, either wandering across the road at random or foraging in the countryside. But can pheasants fly like other birds? In this article, we’ll try to answer common questions about pheasants and their flight.
Yes, the pheasant can fly, but it is usually a short, explosive and fast flight to escape any threats and dangers, as a last-ditch attempt. Most of the time, they prefer to escape threats on the ground. Many pheasants forage on the ground during the day and fly to the trees to roost at night to hide from predators.

Pheasant in flight
How far can a pheasant fly?
Pheasants usually only fly about 2 kilometers at a time. This is because their flight is explosive, consumes a lot of energy and cannot last for very long. They just don’t have the stamina of other birds when it comes to flight. Stronger winds will help the pheasants fly, possibly meaning they can fly longer.
The longest pheasant flight ever recorded is 6.5 kilometers over water, which is very special for these birds.
How fast can a pheasant fly?
The average cruising speed of a pheasant in flight is between 38 and 48 mph (61 – 77 km/h). When pursued, they can reach a top speed of 60 mph (96 km/h).
That’s much faster than the 8 to 10 miles per hour they’re able to achieve while running.

A pair of male and female pheasants in flight
How high can a pheasant fly?
Because of their explosive, short-flying style, pheasants don’t usually fly at high altitudes, and mostly stay closer to the ground than most birds.
How old can a pheasant be to fly?
It varies slightly by species, but in general young pheasants are capable of short-distance flights between 7 and 12 days old. This is because the flight feathers develop before the other feathers.
Can all species of pheasants fly?
Yes, all species of pheasants can fly, such as the golden pheasant and the very common ring-necked pheasant.
Expert Q&A
ask a question
Do you have a question on this topic that we haven’t answered yet? Submit below and one of our experts will reply as soon as possible.

I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.