Pheasants, 19th century illustration. The 'typical' pheasant genus Phasianus in the family Phasianidae consists of at least one species. The common pheasant (P. colchicus) has about 30 recognised subspecies forming five or six distinct groups. Copperplate engraving from the Encyclopaedia Londinensis, or Universal Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and Literature; Volume XX; Edited by Wilkes, John. Published in 1825.