What is this? Loose exotic bird...

[tapping]

Someone on another message board saw this bird in their yard/neighborhood today, and I'm curious to find out what it is. Any ideas?



And they called animal control and the Humane Society, but no luck with either. I hope it finds its owner soon.

[Bela]

Me too! Wow. Reminds me of the king's parrot...the one that looks like the volkswagon car with each fender a different color, but don't think it's the same bird.

[dvelardi]

It's a Golden Pheasant! I had those when I was a kid!

http://www.pbase.com/dougj/image/21891905

[Monica]

Originally Posted by dvelardi

It's a Golden Pheasant! I had those when I was a kid!

http://www.pbase.com/dougj/image/21891905

Heck, I didn't even know what it was for sure, but I was gonna say that too! (well, least the golden pheasant part.... I'm not particularly good with fowl...)

[The Outlaw]

Wow! What a stunning creature.

[Irish]

Yep, definitely a Golden Pheasant! I had one for years, 'til someone stole him :-(.

They're very expensive, nowadays, because they are so beautiful and exotic. They're like your regular English pheasants in personality--they're not generally a tame creature, so if that guy is running loose, he may not go home unless he can't find food and shelter elsewhere.

[mamalovesrico]

Wow, what colors! Thought it had to be some kind of a hoax when I saw the first picture. Didn't know there were colors on a bird so vibrant and so different.

[dvelardi]

Originally Posted by Joel

curious the first pic happens to be out of focus - just a thought?

IMO, That's cause those little guys are QUICK! I could never catch them when I was a kid, let alone think anyone could get a great photo of them. And it looks as if the photo is through a screened window or door.

We had three of them loose in the yard. I have great respect for my Mother putting up with all the animals I brought home and turned loose in the yard.... I had a Pygmy Goat for years that I had bottled fed. It was housebroken and I brought it in every night to sleep in my room. Thinking back on that....

[Buteo]

I'll third that.
It's a Golden Pheasant.
There's about half a dozen color mutations of the species that have emerged over the last 10-15 years or so. I think that's a Red Golden, but I'm not quite sure though due to the blurriness of the pic. ((Sure looks like the pic from dvelardi's and my included link though))

Yes, their colors are drop dead gorgeous! The male's display is rather cute too. He swings his striped neck feathers up & forward to cover his beak and stares with his green eyes. It makes me think of a Disco Dracula looking over the edge of a gold & black striped cape.

[Irish]

I'll try to dig out the photos of mine and scan them sometime for comparison. He was a beauty, for sure!