pheasants attack?

[tpflabs]

So - I was at the grocery store, and my son called in a panic that a large bird with a really long tail was in the chicken house, dragged out one of the 12 week old chicks, and then flew up in a tree and left.. He wasn't at all sure he saw the bird, but he saw the tail..
anyone ever here of this?
(the chick is fine, but a bit shook up..)

 

[scooter147]

My first thought was a roadrunner until I saw you lived in Illinois.

 

[LynneP]

Pheasants are very territorial and if a male has claimed your property to breed his hens, the chicks of other species are considered prey. We have a ringneck on our property we call 'Bluster' but he can't get to our birds...ringnecks are unafraid of foxes, coyotes or dogs and will strike out at eyes with their spurs, even at a goat.