Food and Water 
Green pheasants are omnivorous feeders. So far as is known, their 
food is similar to that of the ringneck with possibly somewhat greater 
dependence on wild seeds, fruits, berries and nuts. Grains taken from 
farmlands are often those which can be gleaned from these areas, Vege- 
table material frequently represents the bulk of their yearly food 
while insects are taken whenever they can be procured. Young pheasants 
rely heavily on insects in their early summer diet. 
Green pheasants feed morning and evening near agricultural fields 
and also visit tea plantations and open grasslands in search of their 
food. Small numbers are normal for feeding parties. 
Information from the Japanese Wildlife Section indicates that the 
northern green pheasants take both vegetative and animal matter from 
about April to September, after which they gather mainly vegetative 
food from the vicinity of farmlands. Tree and shrub species utilized 
for their fruits include Rosa multiflora (fruits), Euonymus sieboldiana 
(fruit), Viburnum dilatatum (fruit), Viscum album var. lutescens 
(mistletoe berries) and Diospyros lotus (small persimmon fruit). 
Acorns are taken from species of Quercus, also seeds of Japanese 
magnolia (Magnolia spp.) and chunks of chestnuts (Castanea crenata) are 
eaten, as indicated from stomach contents of a specimen obtained in 
Kyoto Prefecture, Honshu. This male pheasant was collected May 20, 1950 
by Heitaro Yonezawa and C. M. Fennell.(@) ‘The latter also reported that 
three additional green pheasants collected in winter had eaten red 
beans, rice, and green tender sprouts of some sort similar to clover, 
green succulent leaves, wild rose seeds and white quartz pebbles. 
In a recent communication, (b) Mr, Toyo Matsuo notes that 
according to the Wildlife Section some foods taken by the southern 
green pheasant are similar to those eaten by the northern green 
pheasant. These foods are listed below. 
In addition to cultivated millet, wheat, barley, and rice listed 
below, other cropland products gleaned by green pheasants may include 
soya bean, buckwheat, and sweet potatoes. The birds are considered 
useful in the protection of forests since they take so many potentially 
harmful insects. 
The high precipitation in Japan occurring throughout the year usually 
provides readily available water for pheasants. Flowing streams, heavy 
dew, green succulent vegetation and insects, also assure moisture during 
the year. 

(a) Field notes of C. M. Fennell. 
(b) Forestry Agency, Tokyo. Letter July 2, 1963. 
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