Grouse-like bird but white ??

dreenman

I wonder if someone can help me identify a bird I saw yesterday. Driving home along the edge of the Burren past Tubber there was a bird in the road. It was shaped like a grouse but its body and head were white! As I approached it flew over a hedge into a field.

Looking at a bird book and on the web the nearest match I could find seemed to be a willow grouse with winter plumage! However does ireland have any Willow grouse and even if it did surely its too early for a birds winter plumage to appear.

Anyone have any ideas what I might have seen?

Judgement Day

Ptarmigan? Although as far as I know it's only found in Scotland.

dreenman

Judgement Day wrote: »

Ptarmigan? Although as far as I know it's only found in Scotland.

It may just be the angle and that the one in the pic is puffed up but it wasnt as plump looking as that but it was that white.

I never thought of it at the time but if I had slowed down earlier I could have snapped it with my phone camera.

Feargal as Luimneach

A white chicken.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

I'm right behind the Chicken suggestion.

Had it just crossed the road?

dreenman

Feargal as Luimneach wrote: »

A white chicken.

I never thought of that! And it seems the most likely one mind you it was a good flyer cleared a small tree!

Judgement Day

I wouldn't describe a chicken as looking like a grouse.

Birdnuts

Judgement Day wrote: »

I wouldn't describe a chicken as looking like a grouse.

It could have been a dodgy lookin chicken - I've come across a few in my time:(;)

trebor28

could it have been a white ferral pigeon?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Ok. Irrespecive of location it can't have been Grouse or Ptarmigan (whether we have them in Ireland or not) as it's much too early for the white plummage phase.

A Chicken could clear a small tree (depending on the definition of small) a Pigeon is possible but much less grouse-like than a Chicken.

Any idea Dreenman asto why it had crossed that particular road?

Judgement Day

Ashton Salmon Penknife wrote: »

Ok. Irrespecive of location it can't have been Grouse or Ptarmigan (whether we have them in Ireland or not) as it's much too early for the white plummage phase.

A Chicken could clear a small tree (depending on the definition of small) a Pigeon is possible but much less grouse-like than a Chicken.

Any idea Dreenman asto why it had crossed that particular road?

Question: Why did the chicken/grouse/ptarmigan cross the road?
Answer: Jack Bauer: Give me ten minutes with the chicken and I'll find out.

dreenman

Ashton Salmon Penknife wrote: »

Ok. Irrespecive of location it can't have been Grouse or Ptarmigan (whether we have them in Ireland or not) as it's much too early for the white plummage phase.

A Chicken could clear a small tree (depending on the definition of small) a Pigeon is possible but much less grouse-like than a Chicken.

Any idea Dreenman asto why it had crossed that particular road?

The shape was definitely more grouse ish than chicken but I guess chickens come in all sort of fancy shapes, sizes and of course frozen! I was preoccupied by the how white it was.

As to why it was crossing the road it was probably to ask the horse 'why the long face?'

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Judgement Day wrote: »

Question: Why did the chicken/grouse/ptarmigan cross the road?
Answer: Jack Bauer: Give me ten minutes with the chicken and I'll find out.

That was totally lost on me I'm afraid. I had to google Jack Bauer to be reminded of who it was (saw the first series but retained no character details!):P

I thought this gag was so old that the Chicken/Grouse/... may have crossed the road to collect it's pension.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

dreenman wrote: »

it was probably to ask the horse 'why the long face?'

Neigh, neigh, that was a Donkey! :P

LostCovey

dreenman wrote: »

I wonder if someone can help me identify a bird I saw yesterday. Driving home along the edge of the Burren past Tubber there was a bird in the road. It was shaped like a grouse but its body and head were white! As I approached it flew over a hedge into a field.

Looking at a bird book and on the web the nearest match I could find seemed to be a willow grouse with winter plumage! However does ireland have any Willow grouse and even if it did surely its too early for a birds winter plumage to appear.

Anyone have any ideas what I might have seen?

A white Guinea Hen?



LostCovey

Birdnuts

LostCovey wrote: »

A white Guinea Hen?



LostCovey

Good guess - Sounds like the most likely suspect:)

Feargal as Luimneach

Birdnuts wrote: »

Good guess - Sounds like the most likely suspect:)

x2

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

That there funny lookin' chicken could be the one!

Have to say I've never seen one. But then again they're hard'ly wildlife.:)

LostCovey

Ashton Salmon Penknife wrote: »

That there funny lookin' chicken could be the one!

Have to say I've never seen one. But then again they're hard'ly wildlife.:)

Anyone who kept them might beg to differ!

They alarm-call at every little thing, and roost in trees.

LC

dreenman

LostCovey wrote: »

A white Guinea Hen?



LostCovey

I think thats what I saw - not quite as pristine as the one in your pic. Must have strayed a bit from home.

IceMaiden

LostCovey wrote: »

Anyone who kept them might beg to differ!

They alarm-call at every little thing, and roost in trees.

LC

Yes we had friends who kept them for the alarm call & very good they prooved to be at alerting others to danger etc.