Habitat:  Think Louisiana Waterthrush or Prothonotary Warbler habitat.
 A stream running through a valley into the Annapolis Reservoir at
Waterworks Park.  Tall trees on either side of the valley.

I was enjoying a Palm Warbler flitting about in the understory.  A
very odd species (for Waterworks Park) flushed from behind me from
what appeared to be the tree tops (not the forest floor).  It was
large (red shouldered hawk size, but perhaps a bit smaller).
Initially, I thought it was a chicken / grouse / bobwhite looking
bird. Plump, pear-shaped and not to quick to accelerate into the sky.

The bird had a rufous coloration (perhaps more brown than red, but
textured, not smooth) in the wings.  It had a white or lighter hue in
the rump, with a stout, short end (not so much a tail).  Best I can
describe it's flight... well, it flew as if it was being pushed from
behind. This plump mystery bird flew over my head and (slowly gaining)
over the 1st water impoundment, eventually vanishing (in descent) over
the tree line.  I went to look for it, but had no luck.

Finally, when the bird flushed, it made no noticeable sounds.
Certainly, I heard the wings flapping, but no calls were sounded...
nor did it make anything close to a pheasant.

I'm open to any and all thoughts.  Closest I could imagine was a
plumper, more tree-top savvy Northern Bobwhite.

Many thanks,

Dan Haas
West Annapolis, MD