Unknown Animal/Bird in PA - Chicken/Grouse/Pheasant

[DevilDog812]

Hey guys! My brother-in-law caught this thing on his trail camera one night, and we have no idea what it could be, and we have a lot of knowledge on animals and birds of the area. I know it is hard to see very well, but I have seen worse things identified in minutes on this forum

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[relic lover]

Re: Unknown Animal/Bird in PA

a chicken or grouse

 

[DevilDog812]

Re: Unknown Animal/Bird in PA

a chicken or grouse

that was one of our most likely guesses, but the black spot on the back is kind of strange. It might be missing its tail feathers or something. The graininess and monotone grayscale make your eyes see things that aren't really there. Like it looks like it has a deer-ish head at the top right

 

[Breezie]

Re: Unknown Animal/Bird in PA

It looks like a Blacktail Deer who has a genetic fur problem. His black tail fur extends the normal growth area. Breezie

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Re: Unknown Animal/Bird in PA

My guess would be hen ruffed grouse.

 

[bearbqd]

Re: Unknown Animal/Bird in PA

I think it's a rooster

 

[DevilDog812]

Re: Unknown Animal/Bird in PA

It looks like a Blacktail Deer who has a genetic fur problem. His black tail fur extends the normal growth area. Breezie

not bad but this critter is only about a foot tall and is in Pennsylvania, so probably not,
and thanks for everyone else's suggestions too

 

[fyrffytr1]

Re: Unknown Animal/Bird in PA

I also think it is a bantam rooster that is facing the camera.

 

[Breezie]

Re: Unknown Animal/Bird in PA

It looks like a Blacktail Deer who has a genetic fur problem. His black tail fur extends the normal growth area. Breezie

not bad but this critter is only about a foot tall and is in Pennsylvania, so probably not,
and thanks for everyone else's suggestions too

I didn't know the size, but obviously not a deer if it is only a foot tall! Breezie

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: Unknown Animal/Bird in PA

I think it's a rooster

I also think it is a bantam rooster that is facing the camera.

I think bearbrbq and fryfrytr1 has got it. I see the head.

 

[River Rat]

Re: Unknown Animal/Bird in PA

I think it's a rooster

I also think it is a bantam rooster that is facing the camera.

I think bearbrbq and fryfrytr1 has got it. I see the head.

I see it now too. LOL! At night? Gee, mine's on the roost @ dusk.

 

[DevilDog812]

Re: Unknown Animal/Bird in PA

Thanks for the help! Our first thought was a chicken or something of the sort, but we could never really see how it fit. I see now that what I was thinking was the head was the tail and the other way around. The tail looks to be at the top right and the head is the darker circle. Now hopefully we will see it again in the daylight to confirm. (though there are many coyotes and foxes around that would love a nice plump chicken )

 

[aka da Prof]

Re: Unknown Animal/Bird in PA

True that chickens roost when the sun goes down, I have been woken up 'round midnight by the squawking from there roosting tree and got out just in time too watch a 'coon grab a hen and try to haul it away-- ( the big bad rooster flew past my second story window-last I saw of him!)-- so, could quite be what happened to the one in your photo and was lucky enough to get 'out of the frying pan'----

 

[Dig-m-Deep]

Re: Unknown Animal/Bird in PA

Chupacabra

 

[sagittarius98]

Re: Unknown Animal/Bird in PA

It looks like a Blacktail Deer who has a genetic fur problem. His black tail fur extends the normal growth area. Breezie

not bad but this critter is only about a foot tall and is in Pennsylvania, so probably not,
and thanks for everyone else's suggestions too

I didn't know the size, but obviously not a deer if it is only a foot tall! Breezie

I think the trees gave a size indicator.

 

[digging wv]

Re: Unknown Animal/Bird in PA

Are there black tail deer in Pa.? Even the 1ft variaty?

 

[digging wv]

Re: Unknown Animal/Bird in PA

I think Charlie P. nailed it with a ruffed grouse facing toward the cam.

 

[nsdq]

Re: Unknown Animal/Bird in PA

looks like a ring neck to me

 

[goverton]

Re: Unknown Animal/Bird in PA

Well, it really looks like a "Texas Snipe" Bird!

Did you have your gunny sack handy?


Or it could be a "Texas Jackolope"

 

[nsdq]

Re: Unknown Animal/Bird in PA

Well, it really looks like a "Texas Snipe" Bird!

Did you have your gunny sack handy?


Or it could be a "Texas Jackolope"

thats it jackolope all the way