Male Ring-necked Pheasant are easily recognized by their large size, overall bronze colour, and distinct white ring around the neck. Females are a little smaller than males, and are a light buff brown. If you are uncertain whether the bird you see is a female pheasant, check the tail. The pheasant is our only chicken-like bird with a long pointed tail. Ruffed Grouse and Spruce Grouse are much smaller and have square or rounded tails.

Pheasants originate in the Orient, but were introduced to Nova Scotia for hunting purposes; they are not a part of our native fauna. Now, Ring-necked Pheasant are most common around the farmlands of the Annapolis Valley but may be seen all over the province, even in cities and towns. Pheasants will live anywhere they can find a field or tall grass plus some brushy cover. If habitat like this is nearby, you may be able to entice pheasants to visit your yard by putting out some whole or cracked corn. For best results, place the food on the ground near some cover such as bushes, a hedge or tall grass. Pheasants are cautious birds and like to stay out of the open. Some ground feeding birds scratch using both feet at once. Others alternate between feet. See if you can observe which method this species uses.

If there is no immediate danger, the pheasant prefers to walk silently, but if you do chance to see one fly, listen carefully - its wings produce an interesting whistling sound. After a fresh snowfall, watch for pheasant tracks. Pheasants are one of the few species of birds that leave tracks distinctive enough to identify. If you look closely, you may be impressed by the long toes of these birds. Follow the tracks and you can discover what foods the pheasants are eating in the wild, and what areas of your neighbourhood are important to them. In late March, watch for intense fights to break out between males. This marks the beginning of their spring.