Mating Habits of Common Pheasants

Male Territorialism

• In the spring, male pheasants begin laying claim to suitable areas of habitat. The males, known as roosters or cocks like their chicken counterparts, will stake out an area ranging from a few acres to dozens of acres, depending on the habitat in the area. They become extremely aggressive, brooking no intrusion from rivals. The males will advertise their presence loudly by crowing, strutting and beating their wings. These behaviors serve the dual purpose of warning away competitors and demonstrating virility for any females in the area. It also serves to attract predators, a less desirable outcome.

Female Response

• Females, or hens, do not respond as quickly to the lengthening days as the males. Their initial response to the males' display behavior is rather cool, usually no more than a brief interruption of her feeding routine. After a desultory inspection, the female will saunter away and leave the male to continue his display. As time passes, eventually the biological imperative to reproduce catches up with the females as well, and they select a male for mating.

Courtship Display

• In the presence of a hen, the male begins a showy courtship ritual. He leans toward the hen as he approaches, spreading his tail to make a fan behind him. He also spreads his wings, with the wing nearest the hen angled low to the ground. He holds his head low, but with his ear tufts fiercely erect. The overall effect is rather like a caped gallant of bygone days, "making a leg" to a lady. The male literally dances attendance, circling the female repeatedly. His wattles engorge, becoming larger and more vividly red.

Mating and Nesting

• Cock pheasants assemble a harem consisting usually of two to three hens, though it is not uncommon to have as many as eight. The hens are startlingly casual mothers, dropping the first several khaki-colored eggs at random on the ground. After abandoning several eggs, the females eventually build their permanent nests in shallow depressions on the ground. Grain fields provide a safe habitat with plenty of protected cover. Alfalfa fields are an unfortunate choice, since alfalfa is harvested just as the birds are hatching. Mowing and swathing result in a high mortality rate.