Dave Appleton
Well-known member
I'm seeing a lot again now too. They became common in some areas a few years ago but had seemed to declined a bit, but they seem to be appearing more again now - I've seen loads between Crabbe Castle Farm (south of Wells) and Wighton this week in my lunch breaks.
These birds are a mutant variation of Common Pheasant that I believe is achieved through selective breeding rather than hybridisation - despite their superficial similarity to Japanese Green Pheasants they are NOT Japanese Green Pheasants. Unfortunately various bird reports, including our own, persist in reporting them as Japanese Green Pheasant, but, not for lack of trying, I am yet to find any evidence at all that there has ever been a Japanese Green Pheasant in the wild in Norfolk. Green Pheasants have pale blue rump and wing-coverts, which these birds don't. The variant does have a name - 'tenebrosus'. Properly they should be referred to as var. tenebrosus.
People often refer to them as melanistic, but I understand that that's not technically correct as the plumage is irridescent green/blue/purple and only appears black in certain lights or from a distance. Interestingly some of the females have quite pale fringes to their feathers, which would be odd if they really were melanistic.
I can't answer why they are released - another theory I heard (I think I read it on the website of someone selling them) is that they survive and breed well in the wild.
Some photos on my website - www.gobirding.eu/Photos/Pheasant.php
Another variant of Pheasant I've started to see recently, especially in the Brecks but also in NW Norfolk, is one with snow-white upperparts. I can't find any reference to these anywhere online - does anyone know if this mutation has a name? Some photos of these on the same link.
Edit - ah, sorry, I didn't see James' post (and thanks for the link James)
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