What kind of bird is this?

September 19, 2006 9:45 AM

I live just east of Toronto and this morning I happened to see this bird in my back yard - I have never seen one of these before - I am guessing it was someone's pet that has escaped - anyone know what it is? I managed to get a quick shot of it before it flew off - it was at least a foot in height with very long tail feathers. http://tinyurl.com/rbpny
posted by DonM to Pets & Animals (7 answers total)

It's a golden pheasant.
posted by jessamyn at 9:49 AM on September 19, 2006

Best answer: Here's more about golden pheasants, they're popular with people who like to keep fancy birds.
posted by jessamyn at 9:53 AM on September 19, 2006

(so, just curious, jessamyn - did you know the bird on sight or just amazingly fast with the research skills?)
posted by jazon at 10:43 AM on September 19, 2006

(I actually looked it up in a book, with a bird that weird looking I knew it wouldn't be hard to find)
posted by jessamyn at 10:51 AM on September 19, 2006

Here is another golden pheasant sighting in Toronto, from Aug 18, 2006.

I saw a doe in Lambton Park in August (where Dundas crosses the Humber River). Pretty amazing!
posted by Chuckles at 10:20 PM on September 19, 2006

I guessed it was a golden pheasant on description. But then, I notice pretty pheasants and have seen a couple recently. Pheasants are very tasty! :-9
posted by Goofyy at 5:20 AM on September 20, 2006

Not only did jessamyn look it up in a book of all things, she didn't even rub our noses in it. What a nice librarian :)
posted by owen at 10:43 AM on September 20, 2006