The Afghan-Whitewing Pheasant

The Afghan-Whitewing is a breed of pheasant that we first discovered in Washington State. A farmer had a flock of these pheasants, and we were able to purchase a small number of eggs from him. We then hatched them here on the farm in the early 90’s. With this being our first flock, we raised the birds, paid close attention, and compared the habits and characteristics of the Afghan-Whitewing to our resources, and they were exactly the same.

These birds differ from other pheasants in a number of ways. Most pheasants’ eyes are very dark while the Afghans have a very distinct yellow iris and black pupil. Another trait is the coloring of the coverlids. As I am sure you are well aware, the coverlids refer to the feathers that cover the shoulders. These feathers are responsible for protecting their delicate joints. On the Afghans, the coverlids are, you guessed it, white.

Their body color resembles a rust red color and is naturally very dark. They do not have a ring around their neck. Their breast is very similar to the Melanistic Pheasant in the fact that it can almost be called black, it is so dark. This breed is a small one, with the adult male only getting up to about 2 ¼ lbs.

The posture and temperament also sets them apart from other breeds. Unlike other pheasants, this breed stands very erect, almost as though it is on full alert. They appear to be more aware of their surroundings and give off the impression that they have an idea of what is going on. They are very fast birds as well. Between their distinct look and unique temperament, they have quickly become a farm favorite!

In the late 1990’s, we were producing around 1,000 Afghans a week! Due to the reduced demand, we now produce only a few thousand a year. When the farm first began, we were breeding many different types of exotic pheasants, including Buff and Mongolian Pheasants. We eventually got out of raising exotic birds in order to focus on running our commercial game farm. Read more about the birds we currently offer by visiting: https://www.pheasant.com/birds.aspx