Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • proper noun A taxonomic genus within the family Phasianidae.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

New Latin, from Ancient Greek φασιανός (phasianos, "pheasant")

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Examples

  • Chatterjee in The Rise of Birds) was coined (so far as I can tell) by Johann Illiger in 1811 and thus post-dates Statius Muller’s 1776 publication of the name Phasianus hoazin (that’s right - the hoatzin was originally described as a type of pheasant).

    Archive 2006-11-01 Darren Naish 2006

  • Chatterjee in The Rise of Birds) was coined (so far as I can tell) by Johann Illiger in 1811 and thus post-dates Statius Muller’s 1776 publication of the name Phasianus hoazin (that’s right - the hoatzin was originally described as a type of pheasant).

    Giant hoatzins of doom Darren Naish 2006

  • The male pheasant Phasianus colchicus: 'now almost extinct on restaurant menus'.

    Why pheasant is the only game in town 2011

  • The introduced ringneck pheasant, Phasianus colchicus, is a popular game bird in Ecoregion 47.

    Ecoregions of Iowa and Missouri (EPA) 2008

  • Birds include rare white-bellied black woodpecker (Dryocopus javensis), fairy pitta (Pitta nympha), and ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus torquatus).

    Southern Korea evergreen forests 2008

  • Most usually considered close to either gamebirds or cuckoos (in fact, when first described in 1776 the hoatzin was classified as a species of Phasianus), hoatzins have also been allied over the years with turacos, rails, hornbills, sandgrouse and pigeons.

    Archive 2006-11-01 Darren Naish 2006

  • Most usually considered close to either gamebirds or cuckoos (in fact, when first described in 1776 the hoatzin was classified as a species of Phasianus), hoatzins have also been allied over the years with turacos, rails, hornbills, sandgrouse and pigeons.

    Goodbye, my giant predatory, cursorial, flightless hoatzin Darren Naish 2006

  • Birds include fairy pitta (Pitta nympha), and ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus torquatus).

    Central Korean deciduous forests 2007

  • The cattle show has been, and perhaps may again be, succeeded by a poultry show, of whose crowing and clucking prodigies it can only be certainly predicated that they will be very unlike the aboriginal ‘Phasianus gallus’.

    Essays 2007

  • These are rarely seen forest birds; all but one are confined to Asia. 13 Because they are prolific they can sustain heavy predation, and many species, notably the ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), are constantly hunted.

    5 Chicken 1991

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