10. Ecology and management of RING-NECKED PHEASANT: distribution, ecological characteristics, and economic/hunting importance.

Question 1

Distribution and Introduced

Answer 1

D: Native to Asia and parts of Europe

I: Introduced in Europe - in Hungary the certain occurrence from the 15th century
All over the world. There are about 5 subspecies spread around

Question 2

Status

Answer 2

Decreasing

Question 3

Habitat

Answer 3

plain areas, agricultural areas, forest belts, border vegetation.
 Requires food and hiding places

Question 4

Description

Answer 4

Males 1-2 kg, Females 0.8-1kg
M: blue head, white circle on the neck, red around the eyes. Brownish body.
F: Brown speckled body
Long tail
Clear sexual dysmorphism

Question 5

Diet

Answer 5

Phytophagous: insects (10-30%) and vegetables (70-90%)
- Seeds of weeds and cultivated plants
- Leaves and sprouts
- Adults eat all kind of animals that fit in their mouth
- Insect density is very important for the survival of chicks

Question 6

Reproduction

Answer 6

In spring, before rut, males occupy territories that are best for females. Males that don’t have territories disperse, and sometimes hens follow them.
 Rutting: cocks own the territory and collect the harem. Territory is marked by a sound made by the cock.
 Nesting: Hens nest on the ground, lay eggs for about 15-20 days. Chicks hatch after 24 days.
 Mate choice: hens choose males according to length of tail, body condition, spots on the wattle (testosterone related), length of feather (hierarchy)
 Dominant males protect hens, and they are able to eat more: better condition and survival.
 Cocks are very territorial during mating season
 Good territory must have a place for feeding, nesting, and hiding

Question 7

Behaviour

Answer 7

They run more than they fly and at night they roost on trees.
- Females like to hide on the ground between vegetation
- Males are solitary
- They form harems of 1 males + 3+6 females

Question 8

Hunting

Answer 8

Hunting season of cocks run from October to February, hens can be hunted with a special license.
 Its an important small game in Hungary
 Hunting bag:4-500,000
 Estimated population:7-800 thousand
 They can be shot in the wing

cock : 01 October - last day of February
hen: 01 October - 31 January (only in case of breeding and release)

Question 9

Management

Answer 9

Problems: changes in agro-ecosystem, sensibility to climate, temporary lack of food in some seasons, insufficient predator control

Mistake: neglect of wild population, neglect of habitat environment and inadequate harvest

Supplementary feeding needed

Causes of decrease in population:
- Agricultural intensification: disappearance of field margins, lack of food/use of herbicides, nest predation by tractors
- Predators: Preying birds are heavily protected, low hunting of mammals and red fox are hunted in an inadequate season