Bit of info please

[Carol ann]

We have a rather large Pheasant (male) which comes to our feed station 2 or 3 times a day, today another male also joined him, we were looking at the difference in their depth of colouring, the biggest difference being our usual Phessy has a large White collar round his neck the other one didn't have any white.

Could it have been a younger bird who hasn't got all his marking yet or do they not all have the white collars.

[aeshna5]

There's lots of different sub-species of Common Pheasant. Not a native species here as I'm sure you know) but birds of different origins + various crosses between them have been introduced. Some such as the old English don't have a white ring, whereas the Ring-necked (surprise surprise) does. So your birds may well be adult males but not all will get a white collar. Hopethat helps a bit.

[Dogghound]

I addition to what Aeshna said, the chinese groups tend to show neck collars and the more western groups tend to lack them.

[Carol ann]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

There's lots of different sub-species of Common Pheasant. Not a native species here as I'm sure you know) but birds of different origins + various crosses between them have been introduced. Some such as the old English don't have a white ring, whereas the Ring-necked (surprise surprise) does. So your birds may well be adult males but not all will get a white collar. Hopethat helps a bit.

Many thanks for the info.
To be honest I didn't know, sometimes after coming on here I wish I knew more. I am a total novice when it comes to knowing which birds are which, I have got a good little book which helps ID some of our visitors.