Rare animal thought to be extinct suddenly 'reappears' in people's gardens

A rare species of chicken that is extinct in the wild was suddenly discovered wandering around a home garden.

The Lady Amherst pheasant was introduced to Britain from China in the 19th century and there have been no reported sightings of the bird since 2019.

Lady Amherst Pheasant.

But student Sophie Pearson, 23, was left stunned when she saw the magnificent bird walk past her window in St Andrews, Fife.

The adult male Lady Amherst pheasant is 100-120cm in length. Meanwhile, the tail length accounts for 80cm of its body length. The female is slightly smaller than the male.

They have black and white feathers and a red comb. The tail of this breed is gray with 2 red feathers. The roosters are more colorful than the hens. The hens' feathers are mostly light brown. The Lady Amherst's legs are gray.

The Lady Amherst pheasant feeds on a variety of grains, vegetables, grasses, and invertebrates. This breed of chicken is a poor flyer. However, when startled, it can fly quite far. The male often uses its sounds and colorful feathers to attract a mate.

The Lady Amherst pheasant is currently listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).