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Platte River Status: A common and widely-distributed permanent resident throughout the study area.

Breeding Range: A common nesting species in the Platte River Valley and locally on the Eastern Plain (primarily in the Rainwater Basin area). Fairly common locally on the Dissected Plain and Western Plain. Uncommon and local in the Sandhills.

Breeding Population: The population was estimated at 16,500 breeding pairs in 1979-80. Ring-necked pheasant made up 0.5% of the total breeding bird numbers on the study area those years.

Habitat: We found the highest nesting density in shelterbelts (52.1 pairs/km²), followed by prairie wetland (13.6 pairs/km²), alfalfa (3.7 pairs/km²), wet prairie (1.5 pairs/km²), domestic hayland (1.5 pairs/km²), lowland forest (1.2 pairs/km²), upland prairie (0.2 pairs/km²), river channel island (0.2 pairs/km²), and wheat (0.2 pairs/km²). Nests are typically located in fencerows or brushy areas near the edge of grasslands and croplands. Baxter and Wolf (1971) found that 82% of the ring-necked pheasant nests in their study area were located in vegetation which made its maximum growth during the spring months. Linder and Agee (1963) reported ring-necked pheasants nesting in a heterogenous mixture of western wheatgrass, smooth brome, sunflower, and fireweed.

Effect of Habitat Alteration: Although ring-necked pheasants are common in the Sandhills region, far removed from intensive agricultural production, this species seems to be best adapted to a mixture of grassland and cropland. The increasing practice of removing fencerows and shelterbelts, and planting into the roadsides, has destroyed much important nesting habitat. Prior to the intensification of agricultural practices, including center pivot irrigation, the impact of habitat alteration was positive.

Nesting Data: We have located 4 active nests at the Mormon Island Crane Meadows Preserve, Hall County. On 8 June 1980, 2 nests were located including 1 that contained 14 recently hatched young; the other contained 10 eggs. On 9 May 1984, a nest with 8 eggs was found, and on 12 May 1982 a nest with 14 pheasant eggs and 2 brown-headed cowbird eggs was found there. Flightless young were observed at Mormon Island on 28 June 1980, and a flying brood was found 29 June 1963. Linder and Agee (1983) reported on nearly 600 active nests at the Sacramento-Wilcox Game Management Area in southeastern Phelps County.