Pheasant
Not a native American bird, the ringneck or China pheasant is an import from the Far East.
He's done much better in the face of stiff competition with predators and the advance of civilization than any of the other imports and will also probably survive much longer than any of our native game species.
He has to contend with hunters, real estate developers, dogs, housecats, game poachers and attacks of disease, droughts, fires and floods, but does well in spite of them all.
He is the easiest of all game birds to recognize, since there is no other upland game bird with a bright green head and neck supported by a white ring at its base. His barred, unusually long and broad tail is his second fast identifying feature. He's a big bird, weighing from two to three pounds, which is larger than a grouse and about half as big as the usual wild turkey.
Ringneck is the most popular hunting bird of all found in natural "native" stock throughout the northern states and as far south as Florida. He has traveled west to California, Oregon and Washington, either by natural breeding or by conservation truck.
Where he is shot out or dies out from disease or other causes, he is easily restocked by private or other governmental agencies.
From: A Sportman's Guide to Game Birds
by: Ray Ovington - Enjoy - Don Trosper.
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