Black Cock Pheasant (1 Viewer)

Frogbad

Well-known member

• Jan 1, 2006

• #1

Out and about today on and around the Mull of Galloway when I spotted a jet black cock pheasant eating in a field - no colour at all on it, and it was certainly not a dark female, it was just black. I understand that because they are introduced onto sporting estates that sometimes the colours can mutate but I had never seen a black one before, just wondering whether anyone else had?

 

Last edited: Jan 1, 2006

J

J Jones

Well-known member

• Jan 1, 2006

• #2

They're more regular than one might think. By no means common, but you occasionally find them about.

 

tom24

Well-known member

• Jan 1, 2006

• #3

These darker phase pheasants are slightly smaller and are apparently better 'sport' for those who shoot.

 

J

jimbob

Well-known member

• Jan 1, 2006

• #4

Thats odd, out and about today I saw a very dark blue, almost navy, cock bird. Never seen one that colour before.
jim

 

jpoyner

Well-known member

• Jan 1, 2006

• #5

The Dark Black/blue type are actually a race I think. Check BWP am sure it mentions them in there.
There a lot of them on the Black Isle at the moment....must be some reason for the increase in release of this type but no idea what it is.

JP

 

tom24

Well-known member

• Jan 1, 2006

• #6

jpoyner said:

The Dark Black/blue type are actually a race I think. Check BWP am sure it mentions them in there.
There a lot of them on the Black Isle at the moment....must be some reason for the increase in release of this type but no idea what it is.

JP

Click to expand...

They're for shooters.

 

saluki

Well-known member

• Jan 2, 2006

• #7

jpoyner said:

The Dark Black/blue type are actually a race I think. Check BWP am sure it mentions them in there.
There a lot of them on the Black Isle at the moment....must be some reason for the increase in release of this type but no idea what it is.

JP

Click to expand...

I Posted this last year John:

"Gamekeepers sometimes rear black pheasant and put them in one particular covert. They can then tell where the pheasants are straying to and possibly prevent it. The black pheasant I've seen were originally developed in France, and are black, showing little of the background colour as in melanistics. As shelley says Japanese Greens are darker (and smaller) than the usual pheasant. They are sometimes released in the UK (I've released them in Argyll) but I found them difficult to flush, preferring to run than fly".

The blue backed birds you're seeing might by Michigan Blue Backs, simply a strain developed for it's supposed ability to fly high.

saluki