Not sure about this, It was with a male pheasant, yesterday.
Have seen pheasant like this around Slaley to Hexham.
I think it's just a 'black pheasant' which is a colour variation on the normal pheasant. Some game keepers seem to prefer them.
Thanks chaps, I had it marked as pheasant, but wasn't certain.
It was quite a way off, in and out clumps of grass, at firs glance I thought black grouse.
Cheers.