WEST SEATTLE BIRDS: RIP, Golden Pheasant

(Photo by Kersti Muul)

Over the past decade. readers have sent occasional photos of a multicolored bird we quickly learned was a Golden Pheasant. (For example: 2013, 2019.) Most likely not all the same one, as their lifespan isn’t quite that long. Most recently, the one shown above was hanging around Arbor Heights. Kersti Muul sent a sad update about it today:

I leaned yesterday that the golden pheasant was found off 106th and (Marine View Drive) with head trauma and euthanized at Urban Animal. I matched it to one in Arbor Heights that (a) woman had contacted me about. We were monitoring it in her yard. Found very close to her house.

Kersti said several people had suggested she “rescue” it in the past year, but it was clearly not in distress and was “very active and alert,” so there was no reason to do so. “He had a good free life for a long while. Rest well, beautiful one.”

14 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE BIRDS: RIP, Golden Pheasant"

  • R2 November 25, 2023 (7:24 pm)

    How sad. Though I never saw it in person, myself, I thought of this jewel of a creature often. 

  • Mel November 25, 2023 (8:15 pm)

    No, not Lil’ Donald! You brightened this corner of the world. Thank you.

    • Just wondering November 26, 2023 (2:54 pm)

      At least this Donald looked natural!!!

  • waikikigirl November 25, 2023 (8:17 pm)

    How sad, a sighting of him was on another website just 5 days ago in Arbor Heights.         Do they know how he got injured? 

    • Kersti Muul November 25, 2023 (11:00 pm)

      From the injuries, I surmise car strike.

  • Demi November 25, 2023 (9:35 pm)

    RIP. Pretty sure we saw him a few years ago at Pocket Park in Arbor Heights. It was an unforgettable sighting. 

  • Julia C. November 25, 2023 (9:55 pm)

    That reminds me:  What happened to the West Seattle Turkey that was hanging around North Admiral during early COVID?  Have not heard of it in awhile.  Did I miss something?

  • Rob I November 25, 2023 (10:20 pm)

    Same red band on same leg as 2019 photo?

  • anonyme November 26, 2023 (5:19 am)

    He hung around my yard for almost a week about a month ago.  I became rather attached to him, and began calling him Jin-ji (golden pheasant).  The saddest thing I saw was him perched on the power line, loudly vocalizing while searching the horizon for another of his kind – the mate he would never find.  It was so tempting to try and capture him, keep him safe, but he had been living wild for a very long time and seemed to be doing well – although he was missing his tail feathers, either due to molting or some kind of near-miss.  Goodbye Jin-ji, you noble bird.  Roam free.

    • Karen November 27, 2023 (4:44 pm)

      He didn’t like people much either…would attack anyone who came into my grandfather’s yard. Good guard bird! 

  • Mamie November 26, 2023 (1:31 pm)

    Thanks Kersti. This is sad. 

  • Lisa November 26, 2023 (2:26 pm)

    About 6 years ago he was in our yard in Highland Park! Blew our minds! So sad to hear this. 

  • Karen November 27, 2023 (4:43 pm)

    I think my grandfather took care of this bird for a few years up on top of Genesee in West Seattle.  I am sad to hear he passed. 

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