The pheasants generally are considered birds belonging to the following genera in Phasianidae:Īrgusianus, Catreus, Chrysolophus, Crossoptilon, Ithaginis, Lophura, Phasianus, Polyplectron, Syrmaticus, Pucrasia, and Rheinartia. The typical diet consists of seeds with some insects and berries. Males of the larger species often are brightly colored. These are terrestrial species, variable in size but generally plump, with broad relatively short wings. The pheasant family, Phasianidae, consists of the pheasants and their allies, including quail, partridges, junglefowl, and peafowl). Several species are threatened by hunting and other human activities such as illegal logging and habitat loss. And aesthetically, the colorful plumage of male pheasants and the unique courtship behaviors add to the human wonder of nature. Nutritionally, they are a rich source of iron, protein, niacin, and other nutrients. In many countries, pheasant species are hunted as game, and have been commercially raised for this purpose as well as food. They are important to various food chains, consuming grains, berries, and other vegetation and being consumed by foxes and other animals. Pheasants provide numerous ecological, commercial, aesthetic, sport, and nutritional values. Pheasants are originally Old World birds, native to Asia, but are now found in Europe and have been introduced to North America. Various other pheasant species are popular in aviaries, such as the golden pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus). The best-known of the pheasants is the common pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), which is widespread throughout the world in introduced feral populations and in farm operations. Some of these also use the term pheasant, such as Lophophorus impejanus, which is variously known as the Himalayan monal, the impeyan monal, and the impeyan pheasant. The term pheasant refers to those birds mainly belonging to the Phasianinae subfamily, which includes 16 genera, with genus Phasianus sometimes referred to as the 'true pheasants." Five of the genera typically utilize common names other than "pheasant": Afropavo (Congo peafowl), Pavo (peafowl), Gallus (junglefowl), Lophophorus (monals), and Tragopan (tragopans). The term pheasant also is used in certain locales for similar birds, such as the closely related ruffed grouse and some species of partridge. Pheasants are characterized by strong sexual dimorphism, with males of most species having highly colored plumage, long tails, and wattles (fleshy growth hanging from the neck or throat). Pheasant is the common name for various long-tailed birds of the family Phasianidae (order Galliformes), a group that also includes the smaller partridges and even smaller quails.
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