Unusual pheasant

EzLou · « **on:** January 31, 2008, 11:43 »

Pics are a bit rubbish as taken through the door - they'd have scarpered if I'd opened it.

We get varitions in the males some have neck rings etc - sometimes a variation in the shade of colour in the female but this is the first time I've seen one this dark!

She's the one on far left

Close up

WG. · « **Reply #1 on:** January 31, 2008, 11:47 »

Hen pheasants are able to change their colour quite dramatically to blend with the vegetation around their nesting area.

You also see a few silver-backed pheasant these days - the males are noticably different colouring. That's what we call them anyways.

Bodger · « **Reply #2 on:** January 31, 2008, 11:51 »

The pheasant hen is of the same breed as the others in the picture but has come in the melanistic form. They are fairly common. The melanistic cock bird is fantastic to look at. They can be almost black but also have deeep blues and purples in their plumage. More rare are the white ones, but I've seen quite a few. They are no where as nice to look at as the normal or the melanistic birds though.

That hen bird hasn't changed colour, it will always be that colour.

EzLou · « **Reply #3 on:** January 31, 2008, 11:59 »

All very interesting thank you - I hadn't realise there was so much avriety within the pheasnt world. I think they are all beautiful. Lovely to seee in the garden.

GrannieAnnie · « **Reply #4 on:** January 31, 2008, 12:49 »

She's obviously in disguise!!!!

babe · « **Reply #5 on:** January 31, 2008, 12:52 »

they are very pretty, can you keep them with chooks, or do they fly away.

EzLou · « **Reply #6 on:** January 31, 2008, 18:03 »

They are wild - we dont have chickens. They just turn up several times a day - I put seed out for them now. They run away a bit less these days but still won't really hang around if hoomans are about but I hope they will tame up.

Bodger · « **Reply #7 on:** January 31, 2008, 18:30 »

Please have a quick look at this.

http://www.gamebirdhunts.com/ph-101/pheasant.asp

EzLou · « **Reply #8 on:** January 31, 2008, 18:41 »

I've had a look - we have some of the chinese sorts I think as lots have that blue/silver back. We've seen a very dark bronze cock pheasant but I wouldn't have said he was melanistic. Some have neck rings some don't.

Was there anything particular you wanted me to see?

Bodger · « **Reply #9 on:** January 31, 2008, 18:46 »

The melanistic cock is the counterpart to the hen in your photgraph.

EzLou · « **Reply #10 on:** January 31, 2008, 18:49 »

Thanks yes I did see him - Its a shame they don't have a pic of a hen. He's very black indeed isn't he.

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Unusual pheasant

WG.

Bodger

Bodger

Bodger