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Marsh or Willow Tit? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter markyb2
- Start date
bitterntwisted
Graham Howard Shortt
Hi Marky,
See this marathon thread and you'll see how difficult it can be, especially from a single photo. http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=72210.
I know which I suspect yours is but from that photo alone I can't be sure. Others may be more confident, but if you have a couple of other photos, even if they are not as "good" that could well help. It's on a feeder so you didn't hear a call?
Graham
See this marathon thread and you'll see how difficult it can be, especially from a single photo. http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=72210.
I know which I suspect yours is but from that photo alone I can't be sure. Others may be more confident, but if you have a couple of other photos, even if they are not as "good" that could well help. It's on a feeder so you didn't hear a call?
Graham
timwootton
Well-known member
I think it's certainly a Marsh tit. (It's been a long time since I've seen one though!)
dan pointon
Can't Stop
TSM23 said:
And me. From field experience of the birds i've seen I always find the wing panel a useful feature...
bitterntwisted
Graham Howard Shortt
Thanks, Marky. Pic 1 of the new set does it for me, Marsh Tit. I actually find the wing panel difficult - it's all in the head/cheek/neck, i reckon.
Graham
Graham
Jane Turner
Well-known member
You can see the tail shape quite nicely in the last of the additional pictures
bitterntwisted
Graham Howard Shortt
Jane Turner said:
Don't know this one, and don't think it cam up in the marathon thread. Please expand.
Jane Turner
Well-known member
lewis20126
Well-known member
markyb2 said:
I guess this was taken at either Eyeworth Pond or Deny Wood where the Marsh Tits regularly come into food at the edge of the car parks. If you search the threads for marsh/willow tit you should find additional useful discussion on another similar thread from last year - that photo was also taken in the Forest.
Willow Tits are rare in Hamshire and perhaps nearing extinction whereas Marsh Tit remains very locally frequent, especially in the Forest.
Alan
bitterntwisted
Graham Howard Shortt
lewis20126 said:
No it wasn't. What wood? I didn't see any wood.
KnockerNorton
Well-known member
Hotspur said:
It's only really good for adults in fairly good nick - on 1st winters the tails are often very abraded by December and they don't finish moulting them til next August. Many first witners will also moult a few tail feathers during the first post-juvenile moult, which then come out longer and wider than the others, which also mucks things up a lot. It's not used as a definitive guide, but as another additional tool.
The first pic marky posted here looked fairly good for willow tit and I got a bit excited, as that would be a very good record in that area. The birds posture and the lighting really affected it. However, the first pic of the 2nd set is defo a marsh tit, as are the others.
The demarcation between white cheek and dusky sides of neck behind the ear covert, very obviously blue gloss on the cap, white cutting edge on the bill, sleek appearance (when it's not lurching forward for seeds!). The underparts are quite warm buff for a marsh tit (especially in first pic, which would be pro-willow), but that could be colour rendition in the photos.
Anyway, defo a marsh tit.
lewis20126
Well-known member
bitterntwisted said:
I'm obviously in woodland denial.
Well spotted - that should of course have been Denny Wood. A great site for Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers in early Spring by the way (as well as Marsh Tits).
Alan
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