Rainbow Pheasant

by Kay Limbird 

Member of the Shady Pine Irregulars

   We have had the privilege to witness the love affair between a male pheasant and his reflection.  The obsessive courtship takes place on our back deck where multiple low windows allow the colorful bird to view himself, mostly, from his chest up.   He is a local bird and announces his neighborhood arrival well in advance with the familiar, penetrating, intermittent, mono-toned duo-squawks we all can recognize as “male pheasant.”   He arrives alone and jumps somewhat confidently, now, up onto our deck; a pattern he repeats several times a day. Once he is in place, he looks expectantly toward the line of windows to his right and there he is! the love of his life…. faithfully present, attentive, and oh so handsome!     We do not witness any aggression or bravado toward the male image he sees reflected in the line of windows.  Rather, his true-love, feathered twin responds with equal arousal, offering shy, beaky, “kisses” which resonate on the windowpane in perfect, harmless synchrony.  The mutual admiration becomes a sort of romantic dance…coyly orchestrated…. with quick reversals, briefly feigned indifference, and neck-stretching bravado…always with an eye toward the object of affection. 

   ”Is he still watching?  His head-bobbing is so thrilling! And that tail!  What if I look with my other eye??…. oh, my!”

     Our LGBTQ pheasant parades back and forth, frequently checking to left or right, depending on his direction, sometimes ducking low and coming up suddenly while reversing.  These complicated maneuvers are tirelessly and perfectly imitated by the reflected image.    We aren’t sure if our visiting pheasant has any interest in neighborhood hens.  Perhaps he is available when encounters allow. Consequently, we assume him to be a “modern bird”, open-minded, and experimental.  We call him AC-DC.