Bird identification help. No picture.

Cockney

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Brian
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I wonder if you guys can help. I've seen a bird in the garden (Rotherham area) over the weekend. Not been able the catch a shot yet though.
It's about sparrow size but the feathers are much darker. Its breast and face are a deep claret colour. Any ideas what it could be?

From the RSPB site it could have been a Redstart, but I thought the face was red as well? Looked the wrong shape for a finch. :thinking:
 
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The red head.......?

But if the head was black...maybe a Bullfinch

It's the closest I've seen but from the fleeting glances I've had the plumage on its back was uniformly very dark.
I need to catch a shot.
 
Bri stare at the shape especially the bill Bully's bill is real thickset, also note white rump patch as bird flies away they also really bounce in flight and have grey wings dorsally but if the light was lower or not catching that would appear dark. Finches don't all come in the same shape !!!

. Redstart much more similar to robin in shape and bill ,not so heavy as a bull finch . Like Robin 's they are insectivore so have that typical thin beak also more of a woodland bird .. not so .stocky all around ,note orange tail, it gives you a redstart as a juvie too, here in UK At juvie red starts really really look like robin!! A tad paler maybe but the orange tail hit's one like a sledge hammer

Bully is a bud specialist that's part of the beak shape . I wonder if the bull comes from it's stockiness???

Brian it doesn't really matter which you saw, both are stunning and I wish we all knew both better.. When you get seconds at a bird, for an attempt at ID look at shapes especially bill and then movement. Beyond the obvious colour is a whole "other" set of clues, that don't always get mentioned here. and they should be


An image should give a positive ID for something with red on , in the UK unless you have seen somethiing migrant wise . What I'm trying to get out is how to look at a bird in maybe a slightly different way which will really help you pin down possibles. for an ID

take care

stu
 
Bri stare at the shape especially the bill Bully's bill is real thickset, also note white rump patch as bird flies away they also really bounce in flight and have grey wings dorsally but if the light was lower or not catching that would appear dark. Finches don't all come in the same shape !!!

. Redstart much more similar to robin in shape and bill ,not so heavy as a bull finch . Like Robin 's they are insectivore so have that typical thin beak also more of a woodland bird .. not so .stocky all around ,note orange tail, it gives you a redstart as a juvie too, here in UK At juvie red starts really really look like robin!! A tad paler maybe but the orange tail hit's one like a sledge hammer

Bully is a bud specialist that's part of the beak shape . I wonder if the bull comes from it's stockiness???

Brian it doesn't really matter which you saw, both are stunning and I wish we all knew both better.. When you get seconds at a bird, for an attempt at ID look at shapes especially bill and then movement. Beyond the obvious colour is a whole "other" set of clues, that don't always get mentioned here. and they should be


An image should give a positive ID for something with red on , in the UK unless you have seen somethiing migrant wise . What I'm trying to get out is how to look at a bird in maybe a slightly different way which will really help you pin down possibles. for an ID

take care

stu

Thanks very much for the Stu. I will keep you updated when it re appears. I have a camera on tripod aimed at the feeding station for when he/she pops back.
 
your welcome bro I do hope you get a pic, it's always nice to be utterly sure what we have seen. :)
 
ok how about this ?? Male Bullfinch

Pum0l7C.jpg
 
ok how about this ?? Male Bullfinch

Pum0l7C.jpg
Yeah Stu suggested that but from memory the breast was much darker and the was no grey on the back. The plumage on the back was very dark, almost black,.
I've only seen it fleetingly twice. Since I've had the tripod and camera trained on the feeding station through the back door. The little blighter has not been back.
 
A random thought, though not with head colour matching breast colour but back is black......and more blackbird size than sparrow.

Transient windblown visitor ~ American Robin

Another possibility is an escaped cage/aviary bird?

It would be great if it returns and you can get a picture or two???
 
A random thought, though not with head colour matching breast colour but back is black......and more blackbird size than sparrow.

Transient windblown visitor ~ American Robin

Another possibility is an escaped cage/aviary bird?

It would be great if it returns and you can get a picture or two???

Now that's much more like it.

I feel under massive pressure to get a shot now. Lets hope he cooperates. :)
 
Now that's much more like it.

I feel under massive pressure to get a shot now. Lets hope he cooperates. :)

If it is a random transient you would indeed be fortunate to see it again. I googled for sightings in Sheffield and nothing mentioned so far???
 
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