Bright patches of bare red skin on the cheeks form red wattles below the eyes. A white collar around the neck gives the species its name. The upper parts of males' bodies are rich bronze and brownish red, with black, brown, and white markings. Tails are brown with black bars. In contrast, the brown, mottled brown hens are similar in appearance to sharp-tailed grouse, which share much of their range.
Hens also lack the white neck ring.
The Chinese ring-necked pheasant was introduced to South Dakota in 1898.