Final answer:
South Dakota's state bird is the ring-necked pheasant, which is a landfowl known for its colorful neck ring, officially answering the student's query with option A) Pheasant.
Step-by-step explanation:
South Dakota's state bird is the ring-necked pheasant, which is option A) Pheasant. This bird originates from Asia and is known for its distinctive colorful ring around its neck. Pheasants are a type of landfowl, which are ground-feeding birds. Landfowl also include other birds such as chickens and turkeys. Pheasants are different from waterfowl, which live on water, such as ducks and geese. Additionally, pheasants are neither diurnal nor nocturnal raptors, which are birds of prey that hunt during the day and night, respectively. These categories include eagles, hawks, and owls. The pheasant is also not related to parrots, which are brightly colored tropical birds capable of mimicry. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is A) Pheasant.