Strange Bird in the woods (no not that kind)

[Angus Og]

Seen this bird in the woods in Cumbernauld today any help in identification would be greatly appreciated.

Iain

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[Justin Time]

First impression is of a pheasant of some type.. or maybe one of those fancy fowl. Certainly not a native bird nor an introduced/feral species... someone somewhere has lost this one...

 

[Angus Og]

That’s what I was thinking, didn’t fly away when approached just run down the hill into the woods.

Iain

 

[Toddy]

It wasn't near the country park was it? The one with the wolves and arctic foxes? They had some strange fowl when my sons were little.

Cheers,
Toddy

 

[Angus Og]

About 2 miles north of Palacerigg Country Park. The wolves aren’t there anymore think they dead a few years ago.

 

[tomtom]

we have a bunch of black phesants round here.. which look very much like that!

 

[Galemys]

Hope this helps you Angus

Yep it's a pheasant and I think it's this one, the Kalij pheasant
(mmmh, the picture I found of it won't be pasted into this message...)

Well here's a link for you:

http://membres.lycos.fr/tragopan/english/e_kalij_pheasant.htm

it's obviously a non-native one and originates in the himalaya region

 

[Angus Og]

Thanks for your help Galemys looks like you were correct in the identification.

Sent a email to the place where I buy my bird guide DVD-Roms from and got this reply.

Hi Iain

The bird does look like a Kalij Pheasant, a common inhabitant of the Himalyas, though the apparent extensive white on the back might point to some sort of hybrid, perhaps with Silver Pheasant, such birds can sometimes be very difficult to tell.

A fine specimen though!

I suspect that species such as Kalij (and Silver Pheasant, plus other pheasant species) are quite common in captivity as they are quite spectacular birds. It is difficult to be certain of the 'purity' of the bird in your photo, hence my mention of the hybrid possibility, and sometimes in can be difficult to ascertain without very close inspection

Feel free to use the comments elsewhere and a call to the country park would perhaps result in the origin of the bird coming to light.

Best wishes
Russell. BirdGuides

Thanks for your help.