Grouse in Essex ?

[Dawny]

Hi -saw a brown bird yesterday which had a red wattle over its eye and could only have been a grouse. A few years ago I had a bird land exhausted in the garden which I took to the vet and was told it was a grouse. I presume these are birds used for shooting but am confused as red grouse are not supossed to be bred for shooting according to the web. Are these a different species used for hunting?
PS this was in Essex

[seamusagleann]

any chance of a pic ? would help !!

[aeshna5]

It's highly unlikely to be a grouse in Essex or anywhere in the south-east as there aren't any wild populations + they aren't artificially released here unlike Pheasants, Grey + Red-legged Partridges. The only populations of Red Grouse I'm aware of in southern England are on Dartmoor + Exmoor.

If it's not a Pheasant minus long tail I guess it's a possible escapee from an aviary as various gamebirds are kept in collections.

A photo would be very useful.

[The Woodman]

There are some good images in the Gallery of all suspects including this one of a Red legged partridge

Red-Legged Partridge AlectorisRufa - Wildlife Photography

and this Grey partridge

Grey Partridge - Perdix perdix - Wildlife Photography

[RKB]

Did the bird you took to the vet have feathered feet, or typical scaly 'bird feet'? That would be a clincher - the feet and toes of grouse are covered in dense feathers. The feet of everything else aren't. Unless a vet is a specialist in birds, then they're not usually very clued up on identification.

Red Grouse in Essex are pretty much out of the question - it's much more likely to be an exotic escapee (Grouse are not really kept in captivity), or a juvenile Pheasant etc.

[ChrisJB]

Rhode Island Red perhaps?

Regards, Chris

[Dawny]

Thanks for your thoughts. Definately not either of the partridges I'd have recognised them and see red legged ones and pheasants often locally.It was the red over the eye that caught my attention and lack of side mmarkings that ruled out the usual game birds. From your answers it seems most likely to be an escapee from someones aviary. If I see it again I'll try and get a photo .