Identification - It is about the size of a Mallard. The male has a glossy green head with green ear feathers and a bright fleshy-red face patch, white necklace, and very long tail.
Morsels - The reproductive potential of birds, while seldom realized, can under certain conditions allow a species to reach incredible populations. In the late 1930s, two male and six female pheasants were released on an island off the Washington coast. After six years, nearly 1,900 pheasants were found on the island. Often, exotic species-introductions follow this trend, increasing their numbers spectacularly, often at the expense of native birds. The starling is another example, where from an initial 120 birds introduced to New York City, their North American population has grown to billions.
