Ring-necked pheasant cock

PARK DISTRIBUTION: Introduced from China about 1865, now widely distributed on all main islands. Kilauea—Pure ring-necks are quite rare but Japanese blue hybrids are not uncommon in grassy openings, especially along the Mauna Loa Strip road. Haleakala—One of the most common birds of the park, both inside and out of the crater.

VOICE: The cocks crow throughout the breeding season (January-July) with a violent staccato koor-káck.

Optimum pheasant habitat is large open grassy areas interspersed with brush cover, and since this condition prevails on the slopes of Haleakala and along the Mauna Loa Strip road, these birds are found in both sections of the park. Your first view of one will likely be when it flushes out with a great flurry of wingbeats alongside a road or trail in these grasslands. Family broods with as many as 10 chicks may be seen from April through August.

JAPANESE BLUE PHEASANT Phasianus colchicus versicolor
(also versicolor or green pheasant)

DESCRIPTION: Male about 27″, female 20″. Male: Has a blue-green back, iridescent green or purple breast, and long tail feathers. Appears darker than the ring-necked pheasant and lacks the white collar. Female: Brownish birds with long tails, indistinguishable from the ring-necked hen.

PARK DISTRIBUTION: Introduced from Japan prior to 1900. Has lost its identity on most islands due to hybridization with the ring-neck. Kilauea—The park includes perhaps the best habitat in the islands for this species. Pure Japanese blue males are common along the Mauna Loa Strip road and occasional on the Chain of Craters road or the Crater Rim drive and to the west. Hybrids will also be seen. Haleakala—Nearly all are ring-necked pheasants here.

VOICE: The cock-crow is similar to that of the ring-neck, but somewhat higher in pitch.

This species has adapted to the moist open-forest and grassland, while the ring-neck prefers drier areas. Blues seem to have established a niche on the southern slopes of Mauna Loa between 4,000 and 7,000 feet elevation where mists are frequent, sometimes for days at a time.

KEY TO PLATE
[AMAKIHI]
(male) 		[APAPANE]
(immature and adult) 		[IIWI]
[OU]
(male) 		[WHITE-EYE] [RED-BILLED LEIOTHRIX]
[ELEPAIO] [RICEBIRD] [HOUSE FINCH]
(female and male)