| Міжнародна наукова назва | Phasianus colchicus |
|---|---|
| Домен | Eukaryotes |
| Царство | Animals |
| Тип | Chordates |
| Клас | Birds |
| Ряд | Galliformes |
| Родина | Phasianidae |
| Type/View | Phasianus colchicus |
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Common pheasant - a bird from the pheasant family that is native to Asia and partly Europe. The species has also been introduced to other regions and is a popular game bird. In Georgia, it is considered a national bird and is associated with the history of ancient Colchis.
The name "pheasant" comes from the ancient city of Phasis on the bank of the Rioni River in Pontus. The city was founded by Milesian traders as a fortified colony. The Latin species name colchicus refers to Colchis, from where, according to legend, the Argonauts brought pheasants to Greece. The modern city of Poti now stands on the site of ancient Phasis.
Adult males reach about 85 cm in length and weigh around 1.7–2.0 kg, while females are slightly smaller. A distinctive feature is the bare ring around the eyes. The long wedge-shaped tail consists of 18 tail feathers. The wings are short and rounded, with the fourth and fifth primary feathers forming the wingtip. Males have spurs on their legs and bright, glossy plumage.
Males are brightly colored, with variations among subspecies. Northern forms have a golden-green head and neck with a dark purple sheen underneath. The back is golden-orange with black edging, the upper tail is copper-red with a purple sheen. Tail feathers are yellow-brown with copper-purple edges, and the bare eye ring is red. Females are more muted, with gray-brown tones and dark spots and streaks.
The species ranges from Turkey to the Primorsky Krai and the Korean Peninsula, including the North Caucasus, the Volga Delta, Central and Middle Asia, most of China, and northern Vietnam. The subspecies Phasianus colchicus colchicus inhabits the Caucasus, where it is sometimes abundant, acclimatized, and semi-domesticated in parts of Europe.
Pheasants prefer forests with dense undergrowth and shrub thickets and often stay near water along river valleys and lake shores. They hide well in dense vegetation, among thorny and climbing shrubs, or along field edges. When threatened, they rarely fly into trees and more often stay on the ground in grass and bushes.
Their diet includes seeds, small fruits and berries, plant shoots, and grains. They also feed on insects, mollusks, and worms. In the Caucasus, important foods include sea buckthorn and black chokeberry.
