black pheasants

Royston · #31 (**permalink**) 15-10-2008, 10:51 AM

Photographed this black pheasant, today, (see My Images) through a window in France (Limousin). Is this allowed on the 'Wild about Britain' forum? I have heard black pheasants referred to. before,as melanistic.

Pete Collins · #32 (**permalink**) 15-10-2008, 10:59 AM

Hi Royston, welcome to WAB! I've taken the liberty of showing your photo (above). For future reference, you just need to cut and paste the 'Image Code' below the photo in the Gallery or archive.

WildDave · #33 (**permalink**) 02-03-2009, 05:19 PM

We're only a mile from the centre of Newbury but have resident pheasants. It was only today for the first time that I found a 'black' one wandering around though. There was a 'normal' female with it.

Pete Collins · #34 (**permalink**) 02-03-2009, 06:23 PM

Nice shots WildDave - that pheasant is definitely much darker than usual.

Welcome to WAB, by the way!

WildDave · #35 (**permalink**) 03-03-2009, 05:31 PM

Thanks Pete. I think your avatar is a Red Kite? To my surprise we saw one several times last year, slowly zig-zagging low over the back gardens of our road a mile south of Newbury town centre. Didn't manage to grab the camera in time to capture it, I'm afraid.

Love your website, incidentally.

Pete Collins · #36 (**permalink**) 03-03-2009, 05:59 PM

Thanks WildDave. Yes, my avatar is a Red Kite - it wouldn't surprise me that you saw one where you did, as Newbury isn't far from the part of the Chilterns where they were re-introduced and they do fly over towns (one was reported over Reading on another thread here recently). Hope you have your camera with you next time you see one!

rudidubai · #37 (**permalink**) 08-03-2009, 08:02 PM

Hi there,

I stay in Suffolk, near the Norfolk border, and was out cycling a couple of evenings ago when I encountered a couple of 'black' pheasants - just as you described, they were a teeny bit smaller than the ordinary guys, and had a brilliant red comb/head colour. One dropped down flat with the ground when they saw me, and the other stood stock still. I stood silently and eventually they 'plucked' up the courage to move and that's when I saw that, what I had thought were crows, were actually pheasants - the typical drop-tail, slightly swaggering gait. I could hardly believe my eyes... Beautiful.