When man imports creatures to lands where they don't naturally exist, he often brews trouble. Consider the impact and spread of the rabbit in Australia, the red deer in New Zealand, and the English sparrow and starling in the United States. The ring-necked pheasant is an import, too, but unlike the species mentioned above, it hasn't become a pest. In fact, this Asian native has proven to be a fine member of North America's wildlife community. The species is found throughout the United States, except in the southeast, parts of the southwest, and the far north.
Good populations exist in farming regions of the Midwest and the Northeast.
The ringneck is a common resident in Pennsylvania's agricultural areas. The ringneck's scientific name is Phasianus colchicus, and it is a member of the Phasianidae, or pheasant, family. Closely related to quails and partridges, the ringneck belongs to the order Galliformes, which also includes turkeys, quail, grouse, ptarmigan and prairie chickens. The standing height of a rooster is about one foot, and its length, from beak to tail tip, averages 36 inches. Hens are slightly smaller.