ID please Jaunoux Central France (1 Viewer)

Mike Beer · Nov 21, 2017

Please can someone confirm this bird please I think its a Willow Tit, if it is it will be a first sighting for our garden in Jaunoux

Mike

Torchepot · Nov 21, 2017

Unless I'm very much mistaken I can see a white spot at the base of the upper mandible, which makes it a Marsh Tit. :t:

Richard Prior · Nov 21, 2017

Sorry Mike, I have to agree with Tp, it's a Marsh Tit.

Mike Beer · Nov 21, 2017

Ok thank you both Marsh or Willow is a new bird for our garden in France, Willow would have been a lifer.

Mike

Torchepot · Nov 21, 2017

The French bird atlas gives some idea of the approximate distribution of willow tit, but it's either spreading West - or is significantly under-recorded (or both!) as we are quite a way West of the nearest records.

http://www.atlas-ornitho.fr/index.p...=species&y=-20052012&y_start=2005&y_stop=2012

These two papers are very useful for separating the two species

https://britishbirds.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Willow-Marsh-Tits.pdf

https://www.researchgate.net/public...ow_Tit_Poecile_montana_using_a_bill_criterion

Mike Beer · Nov 21, 2017

Thank you very useful

Mike

Andy Adcock · Nov 21, 2017

Lack of a pale wing panel also supports Marsh

A

Torchepot · Nov 21, 2017

andyadcock said:
Lack of a pale wing panel also supports Marsh

A

Hi Andy

Certainly around here it seems to be a reliable feature - but in the articles attached apparently not diagnostic?

Andy Adcock · Nov 21, 2017

Torchepot said:
Hi Andy

Certainly around here it seems to be a reliable feature - but in the articles attached apparently not diagnostic?

Not in itself diagnostic no but combined with other features.

A