Need help with ID of exotic fowl (?)

[DianaC]

Hi, my friend spotted this bird in her backyard. Is this some sort of exotic fowl? Please help me ID, thanks. Location: Modesto, CA.

 

[nuthatched]

Hmmm, it's sick, whatever it is. It's eyes look very inflamed.
let me poke about in a book

 

[Country Birds]

It looks like a female Kalij Pheasant to me. But I agree, the eyes look strange.

 

[nuthatched]

@007Sean
Do you recognize this critter?

 

[ColtHandorf]

It is a female pheasant. I'm pretty sure it's a Kaji. I was just about to tag @007Sean too. @Midnightman14 may also know.

 

[Rhodebar Lover]

It looks like a female Kalij Pheasant to me. But I agree, the eyes look strange.

That's what I'm thinking too. Looks like the lineated subspecies to me and that one in particular seems to be kept in captivity. Not an expert on it but that's what I'm thinking

 

[Rhodebar Lover]

I take back what I said. I believe it's a female Silver Pheasant. They're much more commonly kept in captivity from my reading. They're also definitely not Lineated Kalij as they lack red legs. Here's a female Silver Pheasant compared to OP's bird:

 

[ColtHandorf]

I believe you're right.

 

[Midnightman14]

Silver pheasant hen not a kalij of any kind. Kalij hens have many different shades of brown across their back and the top of their wings which makes them look like they're painted. Generic silvers like this bird have the flat brown across the back and the tops of the wings. Silvers are also larger than kalij typically.

 

[007Sean]

Female Silver pheasant