Pheasant Back

Pheasant Back

I have seen an unusual bird in my garden. Can anybody identify it please?

I live in Cheshire in the UK. The bird is roughly the size of a pheasant. it has a dark brown back. Along the Wing edge five white flashes. Its head is almost black, and this colour slowly turns to a much lighter grey as it gets under the birds stomach. It has quite long legs and quite long claws, coloured yellow. Its eye is bright red, and it has quite a strong beak, white at the tip with black flecks as it gets closer to the head. its tail was quite short and stubby with a white fleck along the side of it. I have photos of this bird, but not very clear as it was so far away. I would love to be able to identify this third
if some one can tell me how i will download pictures

What you describe could actually be a Pheasant,more so if you live near open fields or country side.
Pheasant can be seen in a variety of colours(from normal to black /white /cream/fawn and a variety of mixed colours) and by the description of it's legs yellow and strong beak,red round it's eyes this gives me the impression that it is,as for the short tail it could have lost it's long feathers escaping a predator.

I have been looking at my Book of birds of prey and what you describe could be a Buzzard they are in your area,but the question is does it have a curved beak,if so then that could be the answer.

Lot 25 Kaliji Lady Amherst Pheasant Back Feathers 651    US $7.50

Argus Pheasant Back Feathers    US $7.50

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