Spring male Ring-necked Pheasant close up – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I was tickled to be able to take a nice series of male Ring-necked Pheasant portraits yesterday morning in early morning light in Box Elder County, Utah. The light still had a golden cast to it when I saw this pheasant perched on a fence railing near a ranch. I was close enough to the pheasant that even if I had removed my teleconverter I wouldn’t have been able to get his whole body in the frame so I opted to take portraits of him. I always appreciate being able to take portraits when I can because they can show details that full body photos might not.
Spring Ring-necked Pheasant portrait – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
This Ring-necked Pheasant also had some feather damage and his wings looked a little raggedy. These portrait photos don’t show that wear. Much anyway.
As a small child living in Michigan I used to come across Ring-necked Pheasants on my grandparent’s farm quite often especially when I would walk down the dirt road to head into the Jack Pines that are no longer there. When I look at Google maps of that area showing what it looks like now I am heartbroken by how few trees there are at the end of the road. The farmlands that used to be there are gone and subdivisions have replaced them.
Ring-necked Pheasants are embedded into some of my earliest childhood memories and when I can take photos of them now they always make me smile.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Ring-necked Pheasant photos plus facts and information about this species.
This is my “WOW” pill for the day! What a gorgeous bird! Thanks Mia.
I love ring neck pheasants and have fond memories of them near our Midland, Michigan home. What area of Michigan did you grow up in? Sadly, I’ve seen only one pheasant since I moved to CT,……and not confident that it was a wild bird. They are beautiful! So glad you shared photos of your recent sightings!
Glad you gave us the portraits! I love the detail of their feathers and face.
I always love and admire your paparazzi portraiture, and this is no exception. thank you.
Stunning portrait, so lucky he did not fly off as soon as you pulled up. This is one non native bird I am glad was introduced. Yes, I grew up with pheasants in our yard and field, I love their rusty hing call but not how they would burst up flying from undercover as I walked in the fields. The adrenaline rush would stop about the time I would flush the next bird!
Even a bit scruffy, he is stunningly handsome. Thank you for this morning’s delight! 🙂
This is one spectacular looking bird! You captured every detail!
I live in Moncton about 10 minutes from the river and we have ferral Ring Neck Pheasants in this area year round. In my urban backyard I always have one and sometimes two residents that I see almost every day and there are many more to be seen if you walk the riverfront trails. They keep me company during the long winters. You photos are fabulous and likewise bring me joy as do my own photos of them. Thanks for sharing them.
I saw a Ring-necked Pheasant a couple of weeks ago. I thought my photos weren’t too bad until I saw these. Holy smokes. The detail is wow! I remember pheasants years ago in our yard when I was a kid but over 60+ years houses have been built and you seldom see them anymore.