There are 28 different species of pheasants including the ring-necked pheasant and the domesticated chicken. All of these brightly colored birds originate from Asia. Though we do not have ring-necked pheasants on display, we do have chickens and two of the most colorful species of pheasants found in the world, the Lady Amhersts and the golden pheasant. These two birds are known as ruffed pheasants for the collar or ruff of features found around the necks of males. This ruff, formed by fan-shaped feathers, is spread forward over the males beak during courtship displays.
Ruffed pheasants are native to western Chinas mountain forests.
The Lady Amhersts pheasant is normally found at higher elevations than the golden pheasant. Both male and female ruffed pheasants have long, slender legs and long tails consisting of 18 feathers, but this is where the male and female similarities end. The males are brilliantly colored, with long, hard, shiny crown feathers and long spurs on the back of their legs used for fighting. The Lady Amhersts cock is extraordinarily colored. The face, neck and chest are emerald green.