Are there any British wild birds that look like baby Emus?

[AintNobodyHereButUsChickens]

I was driving on an industrial estate on the edge of my town this morning, turned into a junction and there was a bird running along the road, it looked a LOT like a baby Emu, but not quite. I don't think it was fluffy, it wasn't stripy but spotty/speckled and it was a light brown colour.

Was it an ordinary wild bird or is there an Emu on the loose?

Pheasant maybe?
Lots of young game birds look similar.

It had really long legs though which is why I originally thought it WAS an Emu!

And it didn't have any long tail feathers either

Pheasants don't always have tail feathers - we have a regular visitor who lost his, we assume he was attacked by a cat or fox.

https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/identify-a-bird/

Try using this see if it throws anything up

Have a flick through this to see if you can spot your suspect

www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/

I'm thinking a juvenile grouse though

Are you near the sea? Could it be a wading bird? Like a curlew or something? Seems a bit odd but probably more likely than a baby emu.

A few years ago iirc a bittern was seen in a local town - fairly near a bird reserve that had them resident but it wasn't the sort of place you'd expect to see one.

Probably this years pheasant brood

At the time of year lots of young pheasants are released from their pens for the shooting season. I'd guess it was a female pheasant poult you saw.

if you are anywhere near Wiltshire there is a small chance of it being a young Bustard.

Yes! I'm pretty sure it was that!