The Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) is the most commonly recognized pheasant species across North America and Europe, and its response to winter is a testament to its hardiness. Unlike many bird species that migrate south to avoid harsh conditions, pheasants are non-migratory and remain within their established local range during winter. Their survival depends on adapting their behavior and locating specialized habitats that shield them from the cold and provide access to reliable food sources.
Seeking Thermal and Physical Shelter
To survive the winter, pheasants seek out dense, complex habitats that offer thermal cover to minimize heat loss. Wetland areas, particularly those dominated by dense stands of cattails or brushy willow thickets, are frequently used. Their structure offers excellent insulation and windbreaks at ground level, remaining standing despite heavy snow and high winds.
Rows of dense, multi-species trees and shrubs, known as shelterbelts or windbreaks, provide a favorable microclimate. These woody areas, often containing conifers like cedar, block the wind and trap insulating snow on the periphery, leaving the ground near the center relatively open. Pheasants position themselves within this cover to face the wind, which prevents air and blowing snow from penetrating their feathers and compromising their insulation. This habitat selection reduces the energy required to maintain a stable body temperature in sub-zero weather.
Winter Foraging and Energy Conservation
Pheasants build up a layer of subcutaneous fat in the fall, which can account for 10 to 15 percent of their body weight. This provides a reserve to sustain them during blizzards when they may be unable to forage for days. Their winter diet relies heavily on high-energy sources like waste grain, such as corn and sorghum, left behind in agricultural fields, along with weed seeds, and dried berries.
To aid digestion of this coarse winter diet, pheasants consume small stones, known as grit, which are stored in the gizzard to physically grind down hard seeds and grain. Behavioral adaptations also play a significant role in energy management, such as the practice of roosting in dense cover at night to reduce exposure. During severe weather, pheasants minimize movement, only leaving their shelter to forage, which helps them save calories and reduces their exposure to predators. The ideal arrangement is to have this dense shelter located close to a reliable food source, minimizing the distance they must travel and the energy they expend.
The Danger of Deep Snow and Ice
Winter weather often leads to high mortality rates, particularly when specific conditions create insurmountable obstacles to accessing food. Deep, powdery snow alone is less problematic than snow that has become crusted over with a layer of ice. This icy crust prevents pheasants from scratching through to reach the ground-level seeds and waste grain they rely on for sustenance, leading quickly to starvation.
Ice storms pose a similar danger by encasing vegetation and food sources in a solid layer, making them inaccessible. Furthermore, snow that is deep enough can completely flatten or fill in the herbaceous cover pheasants use for shelter, forcing the birds into marginal, unprotected areas. Exposure to wind-driven snow and frigid windchill in these open areas can result in hypothermia, as their feathers lose insulating properties when they become wet and freeze. During blizzards, some pheasants may even suffocate as ice forms over their airways due to condensation from their breath.