Polish hens (Phasianidae) are chicken-like birds with unfeathered legs. They are characterized by their reluctance to fly and spend most of their lives on the ground. They also nest on the ground. In this family of birds that live here with us, we include quails, partridges, and pheasants. The latter are not native to Slovenia and the surrounding area. They were introduced to our country in the past, but they adapt well in the wild here. For birds in the group of partridges, distinctive are contrasting or colorful facial patterns and usually reddish legs. The group of quails includes small, stocky birds with very short tails. They live a reclusive life and are heard more often than seen.
Pheasants are fairly large birds that we in our region have introduced in the past as game birds. They are characterized by very long tail feathers and a rattling sound. In pheasants, the difference between the sexes, sexual dimorphism, is very obvious. The shiny vividly colored plumage of the males is indeed the opposite of the earth-toned camouflage colors of the females.
