Small birds in the forest ID (1 Viewer)

E

EdvardH

Well-known member

• Apr 29, 2014

• #1

Hi,
Last weekend I visited one of the outer islands on the western coast of Norway. I usually keep most track of seabirds, but I also visited a small forested area where there might have been a number of birds making a stop on their northern migration. Not so sure about those...

(1) Is this a female common linnet? Or could it be a Twite or something?

(2) This doesn't look very black - but I assume this is just a starling in peculiar direct light?

(3) Very bad photo - but any particular ideas?

(4) Fieldfare?

(5) Dunnock?

 

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ApusApus

Well-known member

• Apr 29, 2014

• #2

#2, 4 & 5 are correct.

#1 looks like a Twite and 3 possibly a Spotted Flycatcher.



Shane

 

Chris.S

Well-known member

• Apr 29, 2014

• #3

#3 Looks like a Dunnock as well

Here's one in a similar pose (not my photo)

 

S

stonechat1

New member

• Apr 30, 2014

• #4

#3 is a Dunnock

 

C

citrinella

Well-known member

• Apr 30, 2014

• #5

I agree 3 & 5 are dunnock; 2 a starling; 4 a fieldfare.

I find 1 a bit more tricky. I am very familiar with linnet - I ring hundreds every winter - and am convinced the streaking is too black and dense in the throat area particularly. I say convinced because I don't think this blackness is an artefact of the photo.

I am not so familiar with twite, having ringed less than a handful. However, my memory and my books separate them from linnet as having far less marking on the throat - not like this bird at all.

The streaking also seems too dense for redpoll. I have ringed rather more redpoll than twite, but being colour blind I am finding this picture difficult - I cannot see any obvious red.

I wonder if it is a bunting. I can just about convince myself that a female reed bunting could look like this, though again, is it just too black ? Given the habitat, are there other buntings which I have never seen which might be possible ?

Mike.

 

Mark Lew1s

My real name is Mark Lewis

• Apr 30, 2014

• #6

I see number 1 as being a linnet.

 

Larry Sweetland

Formerly 'Larry Wheatland'

• Apr 30, 2014

• #7

Fat Paul Scholes said:

I see number 1 as being a linnet.

Click to expand...

agree

 

C

citrinella

Well-known member

• Apr 30, 2014

• #8

Fat Paul Scholes said:

I see number 1 as being a linnet.

Click to expand...

Interesting. I see this bird as having it's head turned slightly to one side. That seems to me to indicate it has central pale area on throat flanked on each side by a large, very dark area, possibly roughly triangular with the point up the way. That does not seem typical of linnet. Although the light is strong, I struggle to see how the colours could be distorted to that extent.

Mike.

 

Mark Lew1s

My real name is Mark Lewis

• Apr 30, 2014

• #9

I see a bird strongly lit from behind and to the left, and as such the camera has exaggerated the darkness and contrast of the face pattern.

Here's one showing a similar pattern - imagine this exaggerated and you'd have a similar look to the OPs photo.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Female-linnet.jpg

 

C

citrinella

Well-known member

• Apr 30, 2014

• #10

Fat Paul Scholes said:

I see a bird strongly lit from behind and to the left, and as such the camera has exaggerated the darkness and contrast of the face pattern.

Here's one showing a similar pattern - imagine this exaggerated and you'd have a similar look to the OPs photo.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Female-linnet.jpg

Click to expand...

Thanks Mark, but I don't see anything close to the throat pattern on the OP's bird.

Mike.

 

Mark Lew1s

My real name is Mark Lewis

• Apr 30, 2014

• #11

This comparison should show how I see it.

The patterns on the left of the face (i.e. the birds right) are not visible due to the angle and the light. The pattern on the right is much exaggerated, again due to the light.

I see the throat as dark - but with the left (birds right...) pale submalar area not visible, making it look like a pale throat with dark borders rather than vice versa.

That is just how I see it though!

 

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J

Jamvol12

Well-known member

• Apr 30, 2014

• #12

Judging by the facial pattern, largish bill and clearly defined black and white stripes on the under side of the tail feathers, I'd say Linnet for #1.

 

Last edited: Apr 30, 2014

E

EdvardH

Well-known member

• Apr 30, 2014

• #13

Hi, thanks for all your posts.

Regarding the linnet or not discussion, I have another (even worse) photo, with the head in a different angle - if that is any help at all.

Seeing the discussion, I'm leaning towards linnet. But the throat area is confusing me still.

 

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tarzzz

Well-known member

• Apr 30, 2014

• #14

EdvardH said:

Hi, thanks for all your posts.

Regarding the linnet or not discussion, I have another (even worse) photo, with the head in a different angle - if that is any help at all.

Seeing the discussion, I'm leaning towards linnet. But the throat area is confusing me still.

Click to expand...

Linnet !

//Ben

 

C

citrinella

Well-known member

• May 1, 2014

• #15

EdvardH said:

Hi, thanks for all your posts.

Regarding the linnet or not discussion, I have another (even worse) photo, with the head in a different angle - if that is any help at all.

Seeing the discussion, I'm leaning towards linnet. But the throat area is confusing me still.

Click to expand...

thanks Edvard,

The second photo is not so affected by the light. It shows a linnet

Mike.