HUDDERSFIELD BIRDWATCHERS' CLUB
 
Registered charity no.1098296
Welcome to the Huddersfield Birdwatchers' CubGo to our forum
Normal Topic What is this? (Read 2184 times)
daveh
Senior Member
****
Offline


I Love YaBB 2!

Posts: 133
Joined: 06/05/06
What is this?
03/28/16 at 20:05:49
Post Tools
In my garden this afternoon.  At first I thought female Golden Pheasant but colours seem wrong.  Maybe it's just an aberrant Pheasant.
  

P1000301__Medium_.JPG ( 228 KB | Downloads )
P1000301__Medium_.JPG
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
stevec
Senior Member
****
Offline



Posts: 1341
Location: Netherthong
Joined: 12/06/06
Re: What is this?
Reply #1 - 05/06/16 at 20:57:09
Post Tools
I have seen a few like this over the years even over 50 years ago when bushbeating for the likes of Mr Fox of glacier mints.
Just a sport of the common pheasant .They do come in a variety of plumages.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Alf
Senior Member
****
Offline


Are you sure?

Posts: 2074
Location: Almondbury
Joined: 08/20/06
Gender: Male
Re: What is this?
Reply #2 - 05/07/16 at 10:44:13
Post Tools

I think this is a form of leucism, as distinct from albinism, where specific pigments have not been produced creating this overall light colouration.

You get what might be regarded as the opposite effect of melanism where an excess of the melanin pigment has been produced leading to very dark, almost black birds.

Both of these are hereditary traits reinforced by the in-breeding that occurs in most game birds.
  

Alf
Forum Administrator



Grip, don't dip.
Back to top
 
IP Logged