bird identification2

[di1411]

Further to my earlier question, Husband says he den't think pheasants could fly freely as they all have their wings clipped so they can be shot at the right (!) time of year. I thought some were still able to fly distances. Any gemekeepers out there?

[allotment10]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Pheasant

according to this they only fly short distances.

[garner]

it would not be a pheasant it would probably be a sparrow hawk.its a beautiful bird and will have a go at our garden birds but remember there are always more of the prey than the hunters other than man.. hope this info helps

[di1411]

Thanks to both of you. I have looked at the pictures and this was definitely not a sparrowhawk, the colours and shape are totally different.

It looks much more like a pheasant, though I know they don't travel far. However, we have got a stream at the bottom of the garden and a bird-feeding station so perhaps it was tempted in passing.

[Littleowl]

Hi, It sounds like a pheasant to me. They will visit my garden, especially during the winter months.
The **** pheasant usually gives an alarm cry if disturbed, and flys quickly upwards and off, though not far and takes cover in the fields behind us.
Not all pheasants have their wings cliped.

[Littleowl]

**** = male didn't think of that when I typed it. lol

[burnhal]

In fact the majority of pheasants do not have their wings clipped- possibly some that are raised for shooting but there are a helluva lot of wild pheasants out there

[burnhal]

Having read your first post I would say that what you have described was a pheasant. The majority of raptors that may appear in your garden are decidedly smaller than a pheasant. A buzzard or kits may possibly take a bird though these tend to be more carrion eaters. A goshawk or a harrier will take a bird but the description does not fit either. I would say that yes you had a pheasant in the garden but it was not the guilty party. Pheasants feed on grain/seed/berries and it just happened to be around the aftermath of someone else's party- and that someone else would have been more than likely a sparrowhawk.

[di1411]

Thanks for all your ideas. My initial response was that I was looking at a pheasant, but I've never sen one up a tree, in this area or looking so scruffy and angry! It's good to know that there are plenty of wild ones around. We live near, and regularly go to, the Trough of Bowland, where there are masses but they seem to be very much set up for the shooting trade, sadly.

[burnhal]

pheasants are normally seen on the ground- but yes, I have seen them numerous times in trees.

[spudqueen]

Hi di1411, I don't live far from the Trough Of Bowland (I can see Parlick from my garden) but we have loads of wild pheasants round us. They can be very vocal!