Corn Bunting? Scotland (1 Viewer)

Capercaillie71

Well-known member

• Nov 27, 2009

• #1

I was fairly sure these were corn buntings when I saw them, but they were silhoutted and flew off before I got close enough to be sure. They didn't call at all.

Any thoughts?

 

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Jonny721

Well-known member

• Nov 27, 2009

• #2

I cannot be sure but they look like female House Sparrows to me. May well be wrong though

 

Tib78

Well-known member

• Nov 27, 2009

• #3

Corn Bunting

 

P

Parker

Uncomfortably Numb.

• Nov 27, 2009

• #4

Very dificult to id from these images, they could be Sparrows & they could be Corn Buntings, they do seem to have a CB look to them. Cheers, P.

 

A

Andy Hartley

Well-known member

• Nov 27, 2009

• #5

Streaks on the side of the front bird in 3rd pic suggests Corn Bunting rather than Sparrow. Andy

 

Joseph N

Lothian Young Birder

• Nov 27, 2009

• #6

Those birds are looking a tad too stocky and bulky for Sparrows. The streaks on the side of the third bird is also a good point, so I'd go with Corn Bunting. These are just my opinions though.

 

Lappkrabben

Well-known member

• Nov 27, 2009

• #7

The bird closest in the pictuer looks similar to house sparrow. The bird in background looks better for corn IMO judging by proportions.

 

A

Andy Hartley

Well-known member

• Nov 27, 2009

• #8

A bit more brightness to the image as attached.
I think the front bird looks more like a corn bunting than sparrow.
Andy

 

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Capercaillie71

Well-known member

• Nov 27, 2009

• #9

Thanks for the comments

I can see where the sparrow thoughts are coming from but I'm fairly certain they aren't sparrows. For one thing they were right out in the middle of arable farmland nowhere near any buildings and when they flew off they were silent (I can't recall ever seeing a flock of sparrows take flight without a lot of noise!).

Also these birds were large - this more distant shot shows them with what I think are Linnets (the 3 on the left and one on the right).

And I don't think sparrows would show the pale moustachial stripe visible in the first set of photos? I was more concerned they might be some other sort of bunting (yellowhammer or reed) but I'm still reasonably sure they are corn buntings

 

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pauco

Старлин&

• Nov 28, 2009

• #10

IMHO, and that bright pic from Andy, these birds seem to have a heavy body, and stout bill. So for me Corn Bunting.