Biosecurity Spotters logo

Common pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)

The common pheasant is an introduced bird found in some parts of Australia, especially where open farmland and suitable cover are available. Where numbers are high, it can feed on crops and grain, so it may be a concern for land managers and growers.

Key facts

Type: Pest animal, bird.

Native to: Asia.

Established in: QLD, NSW, ACT, VIC, TAS, SA, WA.

Other names: Ring-necked pheasant, Pheasant.

Best time to act: Survey in spring and early summer, when calling males can make birds easier to locate.

Identification

  • It is a large, chicken-like bird that usually feeds and walks on the ground, but flies strongly when flushed.
  • Males are brightly coloured, often with a green head, red facial skin, a pale neck ring and a long barred tail.
  • Females are mottled brown and buff, with a shorter, barred tail.
  • Males may give loud calls, particularly during the breeding season.
  • Look-alike: Brown and stubble quail can look similar at a distance, but pheasants are much larger and have a noticeably longer tail.

Where it lives

In Australia it favours open farmland, pasture and grassland with nearby grassy, shrubby or wetland cover for nesting and shelter.

Why it matters

  • Pheasants eat grain, seeds, fruits, insects and other foods, and can feed on farm crops where available.
  • They may compete with native ground-feeding birds for food and cover.
  • Nesting, mowing and other farm operations can put nests, eggs and chicks at risk.

How it spreads

  • Local populations can grow through breeding and spread into nearby suitable habitat.
  • People can establish populations by releasing or moving birds, so do not transport or release pheasants.

Control methods

  • Confirm the identification and check current state or territory rules before taking action; contact the relevant wildlife or biosecurity agency for advice, especially for a new or unusual sighting.
  • Where permitted, use targeted, humane capture and removal or shooting by trained, authorised operators; do not use poison.
  • Secure stored feed and clean up spilled grain to reduce food available to birds, and protect vulnerable crops where practical.
  • Monitor treated sites and follow up, using only control methods approved for the location and situation.

Site hygiene and welfare

  • Do not move live birds, eggs or nests between properties, and clean transport cages and equipment after handling birds.
  • Keep feed stores secure and promptly clean up spilled grain that could attract pheasants.
  • Use methods set out in the national model codes of practice and standard operating procedures for the species.
  • Coordinate control with neighbours and the local government biosecurity plan, as isolated effort is quickly undone by reinvasion.

Classification by state

  • Australia (national): No national listing. Managed under state and territory law.
  • Queensland: Not prohibited or restricted. Not listed as prohibited or restricted matter in Queensland. Everyone must also take all reasonable and practical steps to minimise its risks (the general biosecurity obligation).
  • New South Wales: General biosecurity duty. Not prohibited matter in NSW. The general biosecurity duty applies: anyone dealing with it must prevent, eliminate or minimise the risk it poses.
  • Victoria: Not declared. Not declared under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994. Other Victorian laws may still apply.
  • South Australia: Declared animal. Declared animals have legal restrictions, which can cover keeping, moving, selling and releasing them, and landowners may be required to control them.
  • Western Australia: Declared pest (C1, C3). C1 Exclusion: to be kept out of WA, or out of the parts of WA where it is not established. Report any sighting to DPIRD. C3 Management: landholders must manage it to reduce its impact and stop it spreading.
  • Tasmania: Not a declared pest. Not a declared pest or prohibited matter in Tasmania. Importing animals is still controlled by Biosecurity Tasmania.
  • Northern Territory: Prohibited entrant. Wildlife that is not native to the NT is a prohibited entrant, so you need an NT permit to bring it in or keep it. Report any wild sighting to the NT Government.
  • Australian Capital Territory: Not declared. Not declared under the Biosecurity Act 2023 (ACT). A general biosecurity duty still applies.

Legal obligations

Every state and territory places a duty on landholders and people working on land to prevent the spread of invasive species, such as the general biosecurity obligation in Queensland and the general biosecurity duty in New South Wales. Declarations and control requirements differ between states and local government areas, so check the current official list before work starts.

  • Queensland: Biosecurity Act 2014 (Qld), administered by Biosecurity Queensland (13 25 23)
  • New South Wales: Biosecurity Act 2015 (NSW), administered by NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
  • Australian Capital Territory: Biosecurity Act 2023 (ACT), administered by ACT Biosecurity
  • Victoria: Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 (Vic), administered by Agriculture Victoria
  • Tasmania: Biosecurity Act 2019 (Tas), administered by Biosecurity Tasmania
  • South Australia: Landscape South Australia Act 2019 (SA), administered by the regional landscape board
  • Western Australia: Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 (WA), administered by the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

Sources