Unknown bird with red/white/black head feeding on lilac bush in Sweden (2 Viewers)

[Natterjak]

Apologies for the awful photo quality but maybe it’s better with photo than without. I saw a bird I don’t know this morning feeding on the buds of a lilac bush in my garden.

It was a small bird, with a body shape like a finch. A red face with a white halo around the neck and head and black at the back of the head. Pale brown patches against white on the body and black flashes around the tail feathers.

 

[Butty]

Goldfinch

 

[Natterjak]

Goldfinch

With no yellow?

 

[Butty]

Not seeing or not remembering a feature doesn't mean it wasn't there. The rest of your description is bang on, the photo fits, and there's nothing else like that.

 

[Natterjak]

Not seeing or not remembering a feature doesn't mean it wasn't there. The rest of your description is bang on, the photo fits, and there's nothing else like that.

Ok, you must be right. I just didn’t see the yellow I guess. Sorry for wasting time with what should have been a simple ID. Must get my eyes checked! 😁

 

[Eranou]

I’ll second that, Goldfinch from the shape and colour on the head, regardless of any other identifying features.

 

[Eranou]

Ok, you must be right. I just didn’t see the yellow I guess. Sorry for wasting time with what should have been a simple ID. Must get my eyes checked! 😁

It’s never a waste of time to post a genuine query on this forum 😊

 

[THE_FERN]

(There's a hint that the yellow wing bar may actually be present in the photo. A hint: nothing more. It's obviously low res and highly pixelated)

 

[Natterjak]

(There's a hint that the yellow wing bar may actually be present in the photo. A hint: nothing more. It's obviously low res and highly pixelated)

You have better eyes than me Or perhaps cleaner glasses😁

 

[Xelioszzapporro!]

The quality of the camera is not good , so hard to say. But it appears to be a European Goldfinch.

 

[KC Foggin]

It took me a moment to find it but yup, a Goldfinch