Not sure what this is. I flushed several of them and really never did get a good photo. They flew very low to the ground and landed a short distance away in some brush. They sounded just like quail when they flushed, but they were a lot larger. Some kind of Grouse or Pheasant??? I'm not home with my bird book, so I don't have a clue. Any help is much appreciated.
Patti
Wild guess here ... maybe a Ruffed grouse? http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&q=ruffed+grouse&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=NbisTOjOAsL_lgfzkYCNCQ&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CDMQsAQwAA&biw=1280&bih=701
edited to correct my spelling and add link to Bird Files: http://davesgarden.com/guides/birdfiles/go/416/
This message was edited Oct 6, 2010 1:59 PM
Plantladylin,
Thanks for the links. It sure does look like the Ruffed Grouse! Appreciate the help!
Patti
You are most welcome!
Sorry, just a female Pheasant. The tail feathers are narrow and pointed, with gaps between them; Ruffed Grouse has a smoothly rounded tail with a black bar at the tip
Resin
So glad you got here with a correct ID Resin! I definitely trust your opinion as mine are just guesses most of the time and I wasn't really sure.
Is it this one, the Common Pheasant? http://davesgarden.com/guides/birdfiles/go/36/
Resin, thanks so much for chiming in. I will be home tomorrow with all of my bird books so I'll have a chance to see the difference you describe.
PlantLadylin, This has been a good learning experience for me as well. The links you provided really looked like the birds to me and gave me a good chance to learn about some birds I never get to see in my area.
p
