By projecting the green pheasant's association with the various 
climatic areas in Japan, one can visualize this bird's climatic 
counterparts in portions of eastern and southeastern United States. 
Certain State names are not shown on the map, but, on a more Limited 
seasonal basis, the northern green pheasant might also find suitable 
habitat in western portions of the Pacific Coast States. Sado Island 
and central Honshu both have climates similar in many respects to 
portions of Maryland. Differences include more precipitation in Japan, 
while springtime is mostly cooler and the remainder of the year warmer 
in Maryland. The most similar Japanese year-around thermal analogues, 
taking into consideration the lower annual precipitation, are found at 
Frostburg and Easton, Maryland. Princess Anne, Maryland, has cooler 
spring weather and the remainder of the year usually is warmer than 
Japan. It lies approximately 60 miles north of Virginia's northern 
green pheasant release area on Cape Charles. 
In the eastern and northern portions of the United States the 
northern green pheasant would possibly find its comparable climatic 
needs from lower New Jersey southward into South Carolina. Coastal 
wooded areas adjacent to agricultural lands such as are found on Cape 
Charles would appear to be excellent for trials. [Inland areas in the 
above States, including Tennessee and Arkansas, where the ring-necked 
pheasant has not been successful, might also offer suitable habitat and 
climatic conditions. The Appalachian and the Blue Ridge Mountains, at 
lower elevations where there is some agriculture and suitable escape 
cover, would appear attractive for this bird. 
The northern green pheasant also should find suitable climatic 
and topographic conditions in western portions of Washington, Oregon 
and California, based upon the winter precipitation period of October 
to April. 
In southern green pheasant range on Kyushu, mild summer and winter 
weather conditions are comparable to areas in the southeastern United 
States such as portions of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, 
Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. 
Japan experiences heavy precipitation throughout most of the 
year with northern Honshu southward to Kyushu receiving annually be- 
tween 40 to 80 inches or more. Figure 15 gives average annual pre- 
cipitation for Japan. In Tables 1 and 2 are presented mean annual 
temperatures and average monthly precipitation in the ranges of the 
northern and southern green pheasants, 
Northern Honshu, when compared climatically to southern Japan, 
has lower rainfall, warmer more humid summers, colder winters and more 
snow. More southerly Kyushu has higher yearly rainfall, warm to hot 
humid summers with mild winters and no snow. August is generally the 
month of highest mean temperatures, and January is normally the coldest 
month. 
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