19 replies to this topic

[Clip]

Taken 8-10-12 In Colorado. I want to say it is a very young Western Meadow Lark but I am far from sure. What to you think it might be?

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[Shoveler26]

Looks like a Western Measowlark to me.

[Liam]

Where in Colorado? This is a young game bird, probably Wild Turkey or Dusky Grouse.

[blackburnian]

i agree with Liam

[Clip]

Liam- I saw him at Cherry Creek State Park. Eastern Plains part of Colorado at the Dog Park I go to several times a week. I have heard that there have been pheasants and other game birds spotted in that portion of the park. They do not stay long being as it is an off leash dog park. I saw a rabbit today too. I have never seen one in the dog park before.

What makes you think it is a wild turkey/ game bird?

[blackburnian]

What about N. bobwhite?

[creeker]

My money's on Ring-necked Pheasant poult.

[Liam]

My money's on Ring-necked Pheasant poult.

Facial features match best for RNPH, but I thought they were a very terrestrial species?

[creeker]

Facial features match best for RNPH, but I thought they were a very terrestrial species?

True that. I'm thinking maybe he got scared and flew into there for cover. You know, any old port in a storm. Plus he does not look comfortable there.

[Clip]

I'm amazed at your responses to this bird. I never would have thought game bird. First, the location. This was taken in an off leash dog park. However, there is a stream just below the bird and the other side of the stream gets little dog activity. So, there is that. But, second is the size of this young bird. I know it is hard to judge size in a photo but the size of the bird in relation to the leaves suggests a very small bird. And I would have thought anything old enough to be away from the parents and the nest would be larger if it was a Pheasant or Wild turkey. Off course, it is possible something happen to the parents. I have seen a coyote just on the other side of the stream. But, the markings on the birds face and back I see where you are getting RNPH.

Northern Bobwhite I think is out of range. The park is not that far into the eastern plains. More just South of Denver part of the plains.

In my Sibley's the dusky grouse is called a blue grouse so it took me a while to figure that out. Having just figured that out I think Dusky Grouse given the size of this bird. I just think it is to small to be a pheasant or turkey. Having looked up pictures of the Dusky/ Blue Grouse I think that is what it is.

If you strongly disagree let me know.

[BarnSwallow]

A dusky grouse would be much less likely in a suburban (I'm assuming) dog park than would one of the other game birds. A released game bird (or it's young) can turn up anywhere because they don't have the wild instincts. Quite a few people post pics of chukar that show up in their suburban back yards.

You're correct in that a game bird that size is too young to be away from its parent. It's quite possible that something happened to them. Poor little thing looks like an easy meal!

[Clip]

The Off Leash dog park is only a portion of the Larger Cherry Creek State Park. But, is quite large in and off itself. The whole park is surrounded by the suburbs. I will try to find a picture of the Dog Park that will give you a better idea of it's size. It is a very cool dog park. I am very lucky to live close to it. My dogs absolutely love it.


I just looked and I don't really find anything that gives you a good idea how big the park is. I will take a couple of photos next time I go and post them here. At last count I was up to 36 types of birds that I have seen in the dog park protion or from the dog park portion.

[Liam]

The Blue Grouse complex was split into Dusky and Sooty Grouse recently. As BarnSwallow noted, they are less likely to be found in urban areas.

ETA: just checked eBird. In the park, Ring-necked Pheasant is the only species we suggested that has been reported: http://ebird.org/ebi...r=1900&eyr=2012

[Clip]

Liam-okay! Your sightings history make your argument stronger. I just can't get past how tiny this bird is and to be able to get up into a tree. If this is a Pheasant to be that size it would be little more than a hatchling. And I would think incapable of getting into a tree. I also can't help but wonder about the sightings themselves. Even though from the map it looks like some are in the dog park portion I can tell you that I have never seen a goose or duck of any kind in the dog park portion of this park. I have lived in the area and driven past that portion for 18 years. I have been going to the dog park portion at least twice a week for a year and a half. In other parts of the park yes but not in the dog park.

Of course if this includes fly overs I'm not sure that counts as this one is actually in the dog park.

Any way just my thoughts. I'm leaving it as undetermined for now.

And ibird is cool. I have never used it before.

[BarnSwallow]

How high was it? If you look at it's wings, you can see the primaries are fairly well-developed - I'd say it's quite a bit beyond hatchling. It might have fluttered/climbed up there.

[Clip]

If memory serves it was about 4 feet off the ground. The stream just below that area has dried up and has not been getting as much dog traffic as when there is water. (most of the dog visitors love to play in the water) There is still water south of where this picture was taken.

[Shoveler26]

Hmm Looks like a Pheasent (I am changing my vote).

[Clip]

After taking this picture in the same park today I'm back to thinking the first picture is a very young Meadow Lark. Mostly because of the way that both birds are perched.

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[TheBillyPilgrim]

I've got no opinion on what the the first bird is, but I'm curious what made some of you think it was a game bird? It does seem pretty tiny to already have its juvenile plumage (i'd expect it to be close to adult size by now, whatever it is).

EDIT: Nevermind on my second comment. Forgot these guys (pheasants) were precocial. Looked it up and they begin molting into juvenile plumage around 10 days after hatching, while they don't reach adult size til around 20 weeks.

[Clip]

The Billy Pilgram that is what had me going. However, I just did a search and found a picture of three young phesants and that is exactly what they look like. Liam was right it is a ring neck pheasant. I am stunned a Pheasant parent would rear their young in a dog park.

Liam I will never doubt you again. My humble apologies!