Phoenix 1, our remaining golden pheasant, is in search of a wife – yes indeed. This morning I was amazed to see him flirting with Malay (one of our roosters which might be a hen). Here is Malay in front of one of the old sheds. Malay is the grown up chick belonging to the first Malay who was one of the many hens to disappear courtesy of the fox. S/he is twice the size of Phoenix 1.
Originally we had four pheasants – two brothers from one farm and two sisters from another. All was well until one of the females died and the brothers fought over the remaining female and Phoenix 1 banished Phoenix 2 to one of the neighbouring properties (I wrote about this in my first post). Subsequently, and unfortunately, the other female was also killed by the fox so, in a matter of days, we went from four pheasants to one very lonely male.
When there were four of them, Phoenix 1 and Phoenix 2 spent the bulk of their time flirting with the female pheasants. It was relentless and hilarious. What they did was to flit very fast around the females, do a kind of hoppy dance and then enlarge the striped feathers around their necks, one side at a time – left, then right, then left and so on. It resembled the opening of an old-fashioned fan and I was never able to get a photo of this because they move too quickly. Needless to say, the females (a grey-brown colour) were just as fast in their attempts to escape this constant attention.
So here is another person’s photo of another pheasant doing the fan thing.
Well, I haven’t seen Phoenix 1 do this for months due to the absence of a female pheasant. So, this morning, as I was sitting on the back doorstep feeding bread to the peacocks, I heard the trilling noise that accompanies the pheasant flirting ritual and was amazed to see Phoenix 1 pursuing Malay, who was also amazed – and alarmed! The chase scenes were like something out of a Disney movie!
What next?
jmgoyder 
Hi,
I rather feel a bit sorry him all by himself it must be a bit lonely. You never know you may end up with half chicken, half pheasant, now that would really be unique. 🙂
Now that combination would be certain to make the news!!!
Butting in here…
I have seen combinations of chicken and guinea hen. It might be possible. Although these species crosses usually end up sterile. ~ L
You’re kidding! It never occurred to me that they might actually get together – yikes!
I’ve never seen that courting display – what beautiful feathers!
And clearly – this is a story that could get interesting.
Yes – it’s fascinating watching him. He will do this literally for hours on end. Poor Malay!
What an interesting display of feathers.
I’m sorry for this golden pheasant all on his own – do you think you might get another female to keep him company?
Yes, I’ve been looking for a female in the poultry/bird ads but so far no luck – I will keep trying. He has started following me around like a little puppy (when he’s not flirting)!
Maybe all that time peering at his own reflection was because he’s suffering from an identity crisis as the only pheasant among so many birds. After getting a clearer idea of what he should be looking for in a mate and realizing he still doesn’t have a match in looks, he’s hoping another identity conflicted bird would be more sympathetic to his pursuit.
Yes, but his own identity problems are his own fault. I feel sorry for Malay who is mystified. Your comment is ultra-intellectual – thanks hehe!
He sure is a show-off! If I were a golden pheasant, though, I would probably be tempted.
You are right there – he is a beauty!
Cute, but I don’t know if that’s a happy thing, or if I should feel sorry for both of them…for the male for being colorful yet lonely…and for the hen for being pursued by a pheasant.
I don’t know either!