Female Pheasants (Male vs Female: Identification Guide)

pheasant(pheasant), also known as the ring-necked pheasant, is a game bird found in northern Asia, throughout Europe, and as an introduced species in the United States.

Males are a common sight on farm fields and country roads, with dark green heads, red wattles around their eyes, and a distinctive white band around their necks. Female pheasants are less recognizable and can vary widely in appearance.

Our complete guide to the female pheasant has everything you need to know about these well-camouflaged game birds.

Closeup of a female pheasant foraging in the wild

How do you know if a pheasant is male or female?

Telling male and female pheasants is simple, and you can confidently tell them apart, even from a distance. Males have distinctive dark green heads, red facial wattles, white ruffs and rich sorrel plumage, and a long, flat, striped tail. Females, by contrast, are a dull, mottled light brown and are smaller in body length.

female pheasant

male pheasant

What does a female pheasant look like?

From a distance, female pheasants appear solid brown and rather dull, but on closer inspection their plumage is mottled dark brown patches mixed on lighter light brown feathers with white detailing around the edges.

Female pheasants have darker feathers on the top of the head and around the forehead, with slight eye stripes. They do not have the distinctive ring neck markings or scarlet facial wattles that help easily identify male pheasants.

Females also lack the ear hairs on the sides of the male pheasant’s head. Their body plumage ranges from light chestnut on the back to dark spotted chins, and light brown breasts. Their long, flat, buff tails are marked with light brown stripes.

Adult female pheasants have tawny to hazel eyes and a medium brown beak. Their legs are gray-brown.

Close-up of a female pheasant

What is the female pheasant called?

Female pheasants are called hens, while male pheasants are called roosters.

Are female pheasants bigger than males?

Female pheasants are smaller and lighter than males, and they also have shorter tails and a smaller wingspan. Females are between 50 and 65 cm (20 and 25.6 in) long, of which 20 cm (8 in) is their long tail. Males can be up to 25 cm (10 in) longer than females, with a larger wingspan and longer tail.

Female (left) and male (right) ring-necked pheasants

behavioral difference

In addition to striking differences in appearance, male and female pheasants also display many differences in behavior, with females being quieter and less dominant than males.

Although not as vocal as males, female pheasants are the sociable birds of the flock, while males are solitary and more territorial.

sing and call

Female roosters are fairly quiet, and their vocalizations are usually weaker and lower-pitched compared to the loud screeching of male roosters.

Although not loud, female pheasants do use a range of communication calls in different situations. A muffled peeping call can warn chicks when a predator approaches and prompts them to scatter and hide.

When a female pheasant takes to the air in panic, she makes a soft cry as the flight call. A high-pitched distress signal warns other nearby pheasants of danger nearby.

Hen pheasant walking on the grass, foraging

nesting and feeding

Female pheasants choose nesting sites and build nests alone. These are simple shallow indentations called “scratches” in the ground, protected by bushes. During the breeding season, male pheasants are known to be surrounded by a “harem” of hens, all of which nest fairly close together within the male’s territory. The males will then guard the brood pheasants and their eggs during incubation, but do not share hatching duties.

During the incubation period, which lasts 22 to 28 days, male pheasants do not bring food to brooding females. In contrast, female pheasants need to leave the nest several times a day to feed, most frequently in the early morning and late afternoon.

After the chicks hatch, the female is solely responsible for caring for them until they become independent. A mother hen will bring her chicks to a feeding point, where they forage for food on their own, rather than relying on the female’s help. At night, the female gathers her chicks and incubates them, keeping them warm, dry and safe for at least the first few weeks of their lives. After the first 10-12 weeks of bonding with the mother, the chicks are able to live on their own.

At the end of the breeding season, adult pheasants tend to gather in communal flocks, and females may become aggressive toward other females as they form a harem.

A pair of breeding pheasants

Can a female pheasant raise offspring alone?

Hatching is the sole responsibility of the female pheasant. Once the eggs hatch, the chicks depend on the female to keep them safe and warm until they become independent. Males have a nominal role in protecting the females, but are generally not actively involved in rearing the chicks, although this has been documented in rare cases.

Can female pheasants fly?

Female pheasants can fly, and also when suddenly startled, but only for short distances. However, they prefer to walk or run at speeds of 8 to 10 miles per hour. Both female and male pheasants spend most of their lives foraging on the ground, taking to the air only when absolutely necessary.

In flight, pheasants average speeds between 38 and 48 mph (61-77 km/h), and can reach an average speed of 60 mph (96 km/h) if pursued by a predator.

Female pheasant (hen) in flight

Are female pheasants brown?

Female pheasants are a light brown mixed color. Individual feathers have darker brown markings in the center and lighter shading around the edges, giving them a mottled overall appearance. Their feathers allow them to camouflage themselves well to prevent them from foraging and nesting in hedges and bushes.