Sunday, December 07, 2008

Quiz Bird Answer

Thanks to those who a participated in the quiz. Here's a better pic of the bird. I'll admit that this bird threw me for a loop when I first spotted it crossing in front of my car. It was a "What the heck is that?" moment. The lack of a tail was what made it tricky. This is a way-more-than-likely-stocked female Ring-necked Pheasant. It was extremely tame and let me approach in the car within 6 feet or so as it meandered along picking at the ground. I assume the lack of tail is either the result of being raised in a cage, the result of a predator, or the result of running from a man carrying a weapon. Congrats to Kiggavik for guessing correctly. According to my brother the hunter, hens are only stocked with a permit or by the state. Private hunting clubs usually only stock males.

3 comments:

LauraHinNJ said...

I was thinking all those things... grouse, pheasant but was confused also by the lack of a tail.

P. Ollig said...

Yeah, I was going to guess that, but I didn't want to take all the glory.

*looks shifty*

Anonymous said...

The CBC for the Bluestem Prairie last year turned up one of these guys with out tailfeathers. I guessing that a dog or coyote got to it but, who knows for sure.