The Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) is an introduced bird species that has become a familiar presence across much of the world. This ground-dwelling bird is known less for its appearance and more for the sudden, often startling sounds it produces. A pheasant’s sound profile ranges from loud, territorial challenges that carry over long distances to abrupt, mechanical noises and soft, close-range contact calls. People unfamiliar with the species are frequently surprised by its vocalizations, which are quite unlike the songs of most other backyard birds.
The Distinctive Male Crow
The most recognizable and loudest sound associated with the pheasant is the male’s territorial crow. This advertisement is a harsh, abrupt, and repetitive call that functions to establish dominance and attract a mate. The sound is typically a two-part, slightly strained “kok-kok” or “caw-caw.”
This vocalization is usually performed from an elevated position, such as a rock or a low mound, giving the male a better vantage point. The crow is almost always followed immediately by a rapid, loud flurry of wing beats, which is a visual and auditory display to enhance the proclamation.
This display is intended to be startling, alerting rival males to the territory’s boundary and communicating the male’s vigor to nearby hens. The volume is significant; this crowing can be heard clearly up to a mile away in open terrain. The intensity peaks during the early morning and late evening hours, marking the boundaries of the male’s defended patch of ground.
Communication and Alarm Calls
Beyond the territorial crow, pheasants utilize a variety of other vocalizations for different social contexts. The most explosive is the alarm call, a sudden, harsh squawk or explosive cackle given when the bird is startled or sensing immediate danger. This sound, sometimes described as a grating “go-onk!”, is often heard as the bird flushes into the air.
The hen (female) pheasant also produces calls crucial for maintaining group cohesion and communicating with chicks. These contact calls are low-pitched clucks or gentle whining sounds used while foraging or leading a brood through cover without attracting the attention of predators.
The alarm squawk is distinct from the male’s crow because it is an immediate, reactive sound of distress rather than a deliberate proclamation of territory. When a hen is threatened, she may also use a more focused distress call, which is a loud, sustained squawk intended to confuse a predator or draw attention to the threat.
Sounds of Movement
In addition to their vocalizations, pheasants produce sound through their physical movement, particularly when taking flight. Because they are primarily ground-dwelling birds, they typically only fly when threatened, resulting in an explosive, vertical take-off known as flushing.
The sudden, powerful beat of their wings during this rapid ascent creates a loud, mechanical whirring or drumming noise. This sound is often the first indication that a pheasant was hiding nearby and is responsible for startling many hikers and field workers. The combination of this loud wing noise with an immediate, explosive alarm call creates the pheasant’s reputation for being a loud creature.