What on earth is this bird?!

[davesull]

Hi everyone,
Our daughter-in-law has just emailed this picture for identification. It's become a fairly regular visitor to her neighbourhood (Worsley, west Manchester). It looks like a partridge but the plumage seems all wrong to us. Any ideas please?

[The Black Rabbit]

I would say its a (melanistic) cock pheasant.
Doug

[davesull]

Many thanks Doug - that was quick. I thought cock pheasants were a reddish mottled brown rather than almost black! Is it just the poor lighting conditions or have I got myself mixed up with something else?
Edit: Ah! You edited while I was replying. Does melanistic make it a variant?

[The Black Rabbit]

Originally Posted by davesull

Many thanks Doug - that was quick. I thought cock pheasants were a reddish mottled brown rather than almost black! Is it just the poor lighting conditions or have I got myself mixed up with something else?

They normally are, but are quite variable.
They can be green or even look purple/black sometimes.
Google image "melanistic pheasant" and you'll see what I mean.

[davesull]

I did and I do! Thanks again.

[The Black Rabbit]

No probs!

[Shanik]

We had a Black cock pheasant hanging around the fields this summer, when the sun was on him, he had very purple and green hues, lovely looking bird.

[Pete Collins]

I've noticed a lot of these very dark, almost black, pheasants around the Northaw/Cuffley area of Hertfordshire.

[Squirrels]

Hi,

Luckily I have become very good at British bird ID because of lots of experience over the years plus I am the owner of lots of good bird books! I had a look at the full size version of your mystery bird photo - I know it's a bit blurred but it's good enough to show what the bird is. It is undoubtedly a melanistic (black) male pheasant. Male pheasants do vary a great deal in colour - they are usually thought of as having white neck rings but some do not. The colour of the body varies from the usual beautiful red/gold/brown through paler shades of this to black! I have seen some very dark male pheasants near where we live in Hampshire - they're not particularly common so you were very lucky to see and photograph one! Well done, and I hope you'll be pleased to know what your mystery bird was!

[coasty]

Pheasants like the one you picture are often birds that are first generation bred for shooting. The birds are often a result of selective breeding by keepers,
True melanistic like the opposite effect Albino are acually very rare.

[davesull]

Thanks to everyone who responded to my query. Sorry about the quality of the original image but because the bird was some distance from her house, my daughter-in-law had to use extreme zoom to get it. I then cropped the image to bring the bird nearer still. Add to that the fact that the camera wasn't on a tripod and it was dull November after all, it's amazing she got anything really!

Edit: Oh yes, we did subsequently find it in another bird book we have, but it's not in the large RSPB book we normally use!

[skydiver]

[Ihi davesull i often get pheasants in my garden but have not seen one this dark in colour

[skydiver]

Originally Posted by skydiver

[Ihi davesull i often get pheasants in my garden but have not seen one this dark in colour

good response from everybody particuly black Rabbit

[The Black Rabbit]

Cheers Skydiver.
Us melanistic creatures have got to stick together you know, be it pheasants, or indeed.... er..... Rabbits.

[Gill Catton]

in the next village to where I grew up there used to be a pure white pheasant around most years - haven't seen one for nearly ten years now.... I guess it probably was selective breeding by a game keeper who has long since left..
pheasants do indeed seem to come in all sorts of colours!

[NickCantle]

Anyone ever seen a Golden Pheasant?

[paulchandler6]

Originally Posted by NickCantle

Anyone ever seen a Golden Pheasant?

Hi Nick, Yes in your neck of the woods in Norfolk.

Paul

[NickCantle]

Excellent. I've only ever seen one and that was in Norfolk. Odds on it being the same one Paul?

[JeffH]

Originally Posted by NickCantle

Anyone ever seen a Golden Pheasant?

Yes, in Thetford Forest - more years ago than I care to remember . There used to be quite a good local population there but I don't know their current status.

Jeff

[paulchandler6]

Cant recall the name of the place but it was between Kings Lynn and Sandringham. Have also seen them in cambridgeshire and Oxon.

Paul

[NickCantle]

Ah Jeff, you know Thetford Forest? My homeland I know the miles and miles like the back of my hand!!!

I miss it

[JeffH]

Originally Posted by NickCantle

Ah Jeff, you know Thetford Forest? My homeland I know the miles and miles like the back of my hand!!!

I miss it

Yes, I've been a regular visitor for 30 years and can even remember when Red-backed Shrikes bred there. Had some marvellous birding trips there for Nightjars, Crossbills and Great Grey Shrikes (during the winter), etc.

Yes, I've spent many hours wandering around England's largest forest - if only I could remember the way back to the car

Jeff

[NickCantle]

Wow, I miss home now

Sure, when I get my Bigma, I'm sure I'll find it even more appealing. Great for fungi as you might know. That's why I'm there so often. I saw the Golden Pheasant just out of Thetford. My Father lives on the outskirts or the town, near Croxton. I saw the bird in Bridgham, not far from my Mother's Kenninghall home.

[John]

It's the Wolferton Triangle Paul.

You have a good chance of seeing them now but if anyone goes for them please do not get out of the car. If you do they will just melt into the background. All you have to do is just drive slowly around the triangle, stopping occasionally, and you are in with a chance of seeing them. Don't forget to also check your rear view mirror as they sometimes pop out behind you.

Please do not go into the wood as this is frowned upon.

The other place I used to get them was Wayland Wood, near Watton, but I haven't heard of them there for a while.

Here is a link to the site. Streetmap.co.uk- search results

John

Originally Posted by paulchandler6

Cant recall the name of the place but it was between Kings Lynn and Sandringham. Have also seen them in cambridgeshire and Oxon.

Paul

[paulchandler6]

Originally Posted by John

It's the Wolferton Triangle Paul.

John

Thats rite John, thanks for reminding me.

Paul