Bird ID please

[fulhamphil]

Hi, was at ivinghoe beacon today and as well as spotting red kites , kestrels and corn buntings we spotted a bird that at first looked like a partridge, but was then chased by a rabbit and it was clear it was something extraordainary, it had a very vivid all red head, brownish body and a very distinct yellow tail, defentally was not a partridge, the fact that it was chased by a rabbit probably rules out a bird of prey. My thoughts then turned to an escapee as we were only a stones throw from whipsnade zoo, it was a very exotic looking bird, any thoughts to what it could be?

[Gill Catton]

sounds a little like a green woodpecker - though only the top of its head is red... How did it fly away did it sort of undulate once it had taken off?

[fulhamphil]

Hi Gill i thought about a green woodpecker but it was far too big, when it flew off it kept low to the ground with slowish wingbeats.

[kro]

How big was this bird? It sounds a bit like the juvenile golden pheasant that I saw at Kew Gardens (which doesn't occur naturally there), but I know there are a variety of different pheasants in the Bedfordshire area.

Also, thinking about it, isn't it Bedfordshire where they have Lady Amherst's Pheasants? I don't know what a female or young one would look like but is that a possiblity?

[fulhamphil]

Hi kro, The size of the bird certainly fits your description and could well be a juvenile golden pheasant, like you i haven't seen one before either, i trawl the internet to try and find one.

[fulhamphil]

Definatly not a pheashant of any description, looked all over the internet and can't find anything that looks remoteley like it, it's a bit of a mystery all i can think of that it's something thats escaped from whipsnade.