Fighting pheasants
Don stepped out on the deck the other day, then called for me to join him and bring my camera. It seems two male pheasants were going at each other hammer and tongs.
The birds were across the road in a neighbor’s field, so these photos are enlarged and cropped (in other words, not the clearest).
One bird was conspicuously larger than the other, so you know whose tail was getting thumped.
Still, to his credit, the smaller male wasn’t backing down.
The fight went on and on, very dramatic at moments.
Honestly, it was almost exhausting to watch these warriors.
They fought for at least 10 minutes while we watched them, and probably longer since they were already fighting when Don spotted them.
Finally the smaller male gave up, and the larger bird chased him alllllll the way down the valley. I tell ya, both creatures must have been exhausted.
These aren’t the only fighting pheasants we’ve seen. We’ve noticed at least two other pairs going at it.
Ah, spring, when a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love. Or, in the case of pheasants, murdering one’s rivals.
Source: http://www.rural-revolution.com/2025/03/fighting-pheasants.html
