Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) is in the Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies family (Phasianidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 12,314 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Ring-necked Pheasant: observations by month (U.S.)
About Ring-necked Pheasant
...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Ring-necked Pheasant by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 1,728 | March | Feb–Jan |
| Minnesota | 906 | April | Dec–Oct |
| Utah | 841 | April | Mar–May |
| Washington | 624 | April | Aug–Jun |
| Pennsylvania | 567 | November | Oct–May |
| Oregon | 552 | May | Mar–Jan |
| New York | 531 | October | Sep–Jun |
| Illinois | 488 | April | Dec–Jul |
| Wisconsin | 438 | April | Mar–Jan |
| Montana | 434 | April | Mar–Feb |
| North Dakota | 403 | April | Apr–Aug |
| Idaho | 392 | April | Jan–May |
| Michigan | 378 | April | Dec–Jun |
| Iowa | 351 | April | Feb–Jul |
| Massachusetts | 330 | November | Oct–Dec |
| South Dakota | 315 | April | Mar–Jun |
| Ohio | 287 | April | Oct–Jun |
| Kansas | 238 | April | Mar–Jun |
| Texas | 234 | March | Sep–Jun |
| Nebraska | 229 | May | Mar–Jun |
| Hawaii | 228 | March | Feb–Jan |
| New Jersey | 213 | March | Nov–May |
| Maine | 206 | May | May–Sep |
| Colorado | 189 | April | Jan–Jun |
| Connecticut | 150 | November | Oct–Jan |
| New Mexico | 148 | April | Oct–May |
| Rhode Island | 136 | March | Jan–Nov |
| Indiana | 97 | April | Dec–Jun |
| Wyoming | 90 | April | Feb–Aug |
| Maryland | 67 | November | Nov–Dec |
| Oklahoma | 60 | May | Mar–Jun |
| Vermont | 59 | January | Sep–Apr |
| New Hampshire | 53 | October | Oct–Oct |
| Florida | 51 | February | Dec–Apr |
| Virginia | 40 | March | Jan–Jun |
| Alaska | 38 | May | May–Jun |
| Missouri | 33 | May | Mar–May |
| Georgia | 31 | December | Nov–Dec |
| North Carolina | 30 | April | Dec–Apr |
| Nevada | 27 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Delaware | 17 | May | May–May |
| Alabama | 15 | March | Oct–Apr |
| South Carolina | 14 | January | Jan–Feb |
| Tennessee | 11 | February | Oct–Apr |
| Kentucky | 10 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Arizona | 9 | May | May–May |
| West Virginia | 9 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Arkansas | 8 | April | Mar–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies)
Wild Turkey
Indian Peafowl
Ruffed Grouse
Dusky Grouse
Sooty Grouse
Chukar
Greater Sage-Grouse
Spruce Grouse
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Ring-necked Pheasant?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from March to February.
Where is Ring-necked Pheasant most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Minnesota, Utah.