Photo sharing and discussion

Re: Identify these photos

Totallypostal84 — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 11:02:05 GMT

Yes, that would be great! The male is really beautiful.

We'll check the prices.

Finder's keepers, loser's weepers.

Re: Identify these photos

Jim Penny — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 05:24:35 GMT

You should hope to see the male! I forget what the prices were from the Sites that I included in one of my Replies but they certainly were proud of them.

Re: Identify these photos

Totallypostal84 — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 22:56:41 GMT

I think you may be right. The picture does look very close and I believe it is an older female since it does not have the blueish tint on the head which looks like that may be a younger chicks feathers growing out.

I just found out that our neighbor across the valley does raise unusual birds for a hobby.

We're not sure we want to call them since they will probably want it back and we wouldn't be able to enjoy watching it anymore.

Thanks for the help in identifying it.

Maybe we will have to look into getting some more or better yet maybe come spring it will wander back over to the neighbor's to breed and then come back here to raise it's young.

Thanks again.

Happy New Year!!!

Re: Identify these photos

valleygirl — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:17:04 GMT

I had something similar to this happen to me last year about this time. A lone ring-necked pheasant hen showed up at my house and hung around for a long time. It eventually made a nest in a neighbors barn and actually laid eggs but I suppose something happened to it because no one has seen in quite some time.

Re: Identify these photos

cairnstone — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:19:09 GMT

Totallypostal84 writes:

"I feel sorry for it that it does not have a partner.

If we knew what it was we might be able to get a few others to make a flock. It seems to be thriving in this area even though it is alone. "

From what I gather, the Swinhoe Pheasant is a solitary bird except during mating season (in the spring). It's also very hardy. So, even if it escaped with a bunch of it's cellmates it does not seem likely it would hang out with them or even miss them.

Apparently, they will peck away squirrels that get too close when they are feeding.

Geez. Maybe everyone should have one.

Re: Identify these photos

Jim Penny — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 05:34:26 GMT

Good job and you just beat me to it.

I decided to give it one more try and phrase a query differently to include PA. What came up had nothing to do with PA but did lead to this Site which for some reason Whatabird won't let me Post the picture. But go to http://www.gbwf.org/pheasants/swinhoe.html and you can see see not only the hen but the rooster too.

I looked a little deeper in PA's bird commerce and found that the Swinhoe's is advertised for sale in Montrose, PA.; Lewistown, PA, and another one at a 570 Area Code. There are many more location throughout the States selling these birds.

The Swinhoe's Pheasant is found in the mountains of Central Taiwan and is also known as the Formosan Pheasant and Blue Pheasant.

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Re: Identify these photos

cairnstone — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 03:57:42 GMT

Sure looks like a Swinhoe (Swinhoe's) Pheasant hen. An escapee likely. They are native to Asia.

Google some images of the hen and see if you agree. Here's one image:

http://www.birdingintaiwan.com/Swinhoe%27s%20Pheasant,%20female.JPG

Re: Identify these photos

Jim Penny — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 03:49:42 GMT

Not sure where in Western PA that you saw these birds but thought that you would be interested to know of just some of the Commercial Operations in PA that sell birds and specifically mention pheasants. You probably could call and arrange a way to send them a photo to get an ID. Let us know what you find out. This has become an interesting investigation.

Clearview Stock Farm & Hatchery
David Hartman
PO Box 399
Gratz, PA 17030
717-365-3234

Cross Keys Pheasantry
115 List Hill Road
Valencia, PA 16059
724-898-9600

Hoffman Hatchery, Inc.
P. O. Box 129
Gratz, PA 17030
7l7-365-3694
http://www.hoffmanhatchery.com/

Email: info@hoffmanhatchery.com

Re: Identify these photos

Raptor — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 01:49:08 GMT

This is some kind of domestic Pheasant or such.

Re: Identify these photos

Jim Penny — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 01:39:19 GMT

Some have more, but it also has a short square tail with sort of a reddish tip.

The picture in question is not a native grouse in my opinion, but as suggsted in my previous Reply.

Re: Identify these photos

thekiwi — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 23:41:04 GMT

I believe it is some kind of pheasant looks to be a hen

Re: Identify these photos

luv2bird — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:45:42 GMT

Does the Spruce Grouse have rufous coloring?

Re: Identify these photos

Jim Penny — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:58:08 GMT

Believe or not "It Sort of Looks Like" a grouse species from central and eastern Himalayas known as a Satyr Tragopan or Crimson-horned Pheasant. If this is not the exact one, I bet it is closely related.

There has to be a serious collector of domesticated birds in your area or a zoo or some commerical enterprise. This is not your run-of-mill barnyard bird.

p.s. Send your pictures to some Commerical Gamefarms and ask them for help in ID'ing it.

Re: Identify these photos

Totallypostal84 — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 10:26:23 GMT

We live in the country but there are no working farms nearby. It has been coming to our feeder for quite awhile but always by itself. I'm thinking it may be a handraised bird that has escaped from their owner since it doesn't seem to be real afraid of us. It doesn't fly that we know of just walks away from us when we come near. It doesn't seem to have a partner or flock to belong to. I don't think it has been a part of a game commission stocking since there are no others like it in this area.

It is about the size of a duck.

My husband has been a game hunter in the past and does not recognize it.

I feel sorry for it that it does not have a partner.

If we knew what it was we might be able to get a few others to make a flock. It seems to be thriving in this area even though it is alone.

Re: Identify these photos

valleygirl — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 04:24:09 GMT

I don't know, guys...isn't the red on the spruce grouse just on the tail tip? The head does kinda look like on though and seems like guiena fowls tails aren't that long, so I'm not sure what this is. Maybe some type of domesticated fowl. Did you see it out in the wild or on a farm?