Odd female Blackbird N.E.London.....? (1 Viewer)

KenM · Dec 9, 2017

Shot this early am today, through the bins it was silhouetted against the low bright sun, thus I took a few shots, have enlarged and lightened, appears to look somewhat attenuated, with contrasty pale area to the upper breast, tertial edging, isolated spotting to the chest/lower breast, belly, UTC's and the pp appears a tad on the long side. Has to be a female Blackbird...nevertheless an interesting one at that?

Also an immature Sprawk showing an ''inordinate'' amount of white to the rear crown? and (I never realised before! that female Chaffinches during Winter can have such flesh coloured bills!!)

Cheers

stevo · Dec 9, 2017

Tempted to say first 3 shots show a mistle thrush.

Cheers.

Steve.

SteveClifton · Dec 9, 2017

Isn't the Blackbird just a Mistle Thrush taken against the light?

edit: cross posted with Stevo!

nbalblas · Dec 9, 2017

Had the same thought, Steve.

Andy Adcock · Dec 9, 2017

nbalblas said:
Had the same thought, Steve.

Me too

A

rockfowl · Dec 9, 2017

I'd have a lie down Ken.

KenM · Dec 9, 2017

That'll teach me to look at silhouettes TWICE! Turdus Mistle-aneous is a Stormcock!

Regarding the Sprawk here's another image...excessive amount of white on this 1st/2nd year bird?

I tend not to scrutinise female Chaffinches...or ''Blackbirds'' come to that

, however I'd not noticed this Winter? flesh pink colour to the bill on Chaffy before, presumably an oversight on my part, as the males tend to be grey at this time?

P.Sunesen · Dec 10, 2017

Hi Ken,

Both male and female Chaffinch have light horn/pinkish toned bill in winter, the males change to the attractive, light blue colour with black tip and cutting edges around March in Denmark (possibly in February in Great Britain).

Here's one from the 15th of January:

http://www.netfugl.dk/pictures/birds_user_uploads/63785_UU_58224_bogf.jpg

The Sparrowhawk could be an adult female (albeit one with quite a pronounced, white supercilium), because of seemingly dark greyish brown upperside (would appear more brown in juvenile?).
The poor quality of the photos, however, easily allow for a juvenile (1cy) as well.
Only adult male (which has weak, or no white supercilium) can be safely excluded.

Peter

ChrisKten · Dec 10, 2017

Agree with Peter on the Sparrowhawk; although I'd favour an adult female with fluffed up feathers (cold or just preening) on the head/cheeks making the Super seem thicker... Same for white on Nape

KenM · Dec 10, 2017

P.Sunesen said:
Hi Ken,

Both male and female Chaffinch have light horn/pinkish toned bill in winter, the males change to the attractive, light blue colour with black tip and cutting edges around March in Denmark (possibly in February in Great Britain).

Here's one from the 15th of January:

http://www.netfugl.dk/pictures/birds_user_uploads/63785_UU_58224_bogf.jpg

The Sparrowhawk could be an adult female (albeit one with quite a pronounced, white supercilium), because of seemingly dark greyish brown upperside (would appear more brown in juvenile?).
The poor quality of the photos, however, easily allow for a juvenile (1cy) as well.
Only adult male (which has weak, or no white supercilium) can be safely excluded.

Peter

Yes thanks Peter and Chris, It was a bugger to see through the matrix of branches, and with all that white on the super/nape/crown, although with nothing to measure it against, I was assuming female, here are two more images with a Magpie in tow.

Regarding Chaffinch, one of those regular birds that over the years I've never consciously focused on (no doubt there are others as well), tending to focus on ''scarcer'' taxa.

Cheers

ChrisKten said:
Agree with Peter on the Sparrowhawk; although I'd favour an adult female with fluffed up feathers (cold or just preening) on the head/cheeks making the Super seem thicker... Same for white on Nape

P.Sunesen · Dec 10, 2017

Neat barring on upper breast further favours adult female.

Odd female Blackbird N.E.London.....? (1 Viewer)

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