South Dakota State Bird – Ring-necked Pheasant

State Bird of South Dakota

Ring-necked Pheasant

The Chinese ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) is the state bird. It was introduced to south-dakota common-pheasantSouth Dakota in 1898 and is easily recognized by its colorful plumage. It was officially adopted as the state bird in 1943 by South Dakota legislature. 

Since it is primarily a Midwestern bird, pheasant is considered a delicacy in many other states. Ring-necked pheasant are not big flyers unless they are feel threatened particularly by predators. They prefer walking and running. 

The South Dakota state bird, the Ringed-necked Pheasant, is a bird that was imported to America from Asia, and therefore has no place in Audubon’s Birds of America, which is comprised exclusively of wild birds native to North America.

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