Uncommon residents. 

Pheasants were formally reared in the Stevenage area for shooting, notably in the woodlands of the Knebworth House Estate, and “surplus” birds supplemented the feral population. 

The Game Book of Colonel Unwin-Heathcote of Shephalbury Manor records that 184 Pheasants were shot at Shephalbury in 1893. The same book records Pheasant Shooting between 1893 and 1895 from the following woods and, places, with the largest, “bags” in brackets: Aston End (15 on 30 November 1893); Chesfield (56 on 30 November 1895); Monks Wood (72 on 24 October 1893); Ridlins Wood (128 on 12 November 1895); Shackledell (23 on 23 September 1894) 

They can be found in any of the town’s woods, the surrounding farmland and occasionally in gardens. Single birds have been seen in Fairlands Valley in March 1975, and in 1976. In December 1979 one roosted in a small area of woodland surrounded by houses near Broadwater Crescent. A female was outside Hanger 1 at the BAE Factory in the winter of 1982. One was seen flying over the Town Centre on 6 November 1999.

At Fairlands Valley Lakes one was seen 24 February 2010, a female on 28 October 2019, a male on 27 December 2021 and a female on 26 August 2022.

30 were seen at Norton Green on 22 September 2016 and 1 November 2020. 

There is evidence of feral breeding at Ridlins Mire, on 9 July 1997 a female with two chicks was seen and, on 4 June 2006 a female and chicks were seen beside Gresley Way, near to Ridlins Mire.

The 2012 Winter Atlas confirmed their presence in seven of the tetrads covering Stevenage. 

At Watery Grove up to three breeding territories were recorded in the Common Bird Census between 1972 and 1999, these probably relate to surplus or surviving birds released in the Knebworth House Estate for shooting.