Crossbill uk (1 Viewer)

[eagle33]

Your bird is a 1cy male Common Crossbill.

Seems a very definate anwser. Oh well ill just have to keep looking, when do these males start changing colour?

Thanks Griffin

 

[pmydon]

Went to have a look today (the weather was just too awful yesterday). After a couple of hours wandering around, I could not locate the flock of crossbills (parrot or otherwise) and gave up. Perhaps tomorrow.........

 

[griffin]

Seems a very definate anwser. Oh well ill just have to keep looking, when do these males start changing colour?

Thanks Griffin

Yeah, these golden cocks ( try googling THAT for a laugh) catch a lot of people out. Your other bird ( 3rd photo Common) is a more typical female specimen.

Sometimes (rarely) these 'golden' birds can eventually turn out to be female. However, in absence of dark centres to the crown feathers this one is most likely a male.

Bill is rectangular not square (though this is only a supporting criteria), culmen not nearly downcurved enough, lower mandible too thin for Parrot (it's mouth is open too). Still some fringing on some of the outer greater coverts, with inner ones possibly moulted so definitely not a second year bird (that has undergone full Summer moult) hence 1cy ( and now 2cy ! ). It should change colour sometime this year.

Lindsay

 

[griffin]

Went to have a look today (the weather was just too awful yesterday). After a couple of hours wandering around, I could not locate the flock of crossbills (parrot or otherwise) and gave up. Perhas tomorrow.........

Try to get some sound recordings, no matter how crappy. May be able to lift something to ID the Common 'type'.

Lindsay

 

[eagle33]

Brilliant many thanks Griffin

 

[Xenospiza]

You weren't waiting for a Parrot in Essex were you?

No, in the Netherlands (see rare birds forum), don't worry! Terrible lack of pines here, anyway...