Golden Pheasants in London

[T0m4ever]

I spotted a male in Kew Gardens yesterday afternoon. None of the UK distribution maps show them in and around London. Is this a wild population, or a recently released one? Does anyone know roughly how many there are in London woodlands?

Thanks.

[RoyW]

There have never been any populations of Golden Pheasants within the London recording area (a 20 mile radius around St Pauls Cathedral), although occasional escaped individuals have been seen from time to time.
It's also possible that at somewhere like Kew they have deliberately "released" a few tame birds for ornamental reasons - like the Peacocks that you sometimes see wandering freely around the grounds of stately homes.

[aeshna5]

There has been a population of Golden Pheasants at Kew for as long as I've been going there, which is many years. Often heard before they are seen, but not too difficult to find with patience.

I think there are probably at least 20 birds there, but suspect these are topped up by the bird keeper, rather than a self-sustaining population. In the past I have seen Lady Amherst's there, but not for some years, though I have seen hybrids more recently.

There are also a few Peafowl, Helmeted Guinea Fowl + some chickens in one area as well as a few ornamental waterbirds ( far less than in the past).