South Dakota State Bird
Ring-necked Pheasant

• Official South Dakota State Bird: Ring-necked Pheasant
• Family: Phasianidae; Partridges, Grouse, Turkeys
• Scientific Name: Phasianus colchicus
• Length: Male: 33" (84 cm); Female: 21" (53 cm)
• Diet: Omnivore: Insects, terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates, small vertebrates; seeds, grain, fruit.
• Voice: Male display a loud, harsh, hacking uurk-iik followed by short burst of noisy wing beats. Male gives loud, harsh cackle when flushed; both sexes give a variety of low, clucking notes, some very similar to domestic hen.
• Habitat: Found in open country, farmlands, brushy areas, woodland edges, marsh edges, fields.
• Displays: Courtship: male on "crowning territory" rises high on feet and calls loudly while rapidly but briefly flapping wings; struts in semicircles around female, head tucked, tail spread, and wing toward female drooped.
• Number of broods: 1
• Nest: Usually concealed in grass, weeds; shallow depression, occasionally barely lined with leaves, grass.
• Eggs: Averages 10-12 brownish-olive eggs, occasionally pale blue, unmarked. 1.6" (42 mm).
• Incubation period: 23-25 days
• Fledge: 12 days after hatching

The Ring-necked Pheasant was selected as the State Bird of South Dakota by the State Legislature in 1943. It was introduced from Asia to the U.S. (Oregon) in 1881 and into South Dakota in 1898.  Pheasants are easily recognized by their colorful plumage.

South Dakota Birds

South Dakota, Delaware and Rhode Island are the only three U.S. States that have selected non-native birds as the Official State Bird.
Go to Delaware State Bird (Blue Hen).
Go to Rhode Island State Bird (Rhode Island Red Hen).

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