Somerset UK id black/ dark grey bird please (1 Viewer)

L

lizl

Member

• Mar 2, 2025

• #1

This morning, March 2, saw a bird flying across a field, looping flight about hedge height. It was a chunky looking bird, bigger than a blackbird, with wide wings.
It was a really bright clear day and it appeared a solid black and dark grey colour but most distinctive feature was a white rump visible as it flew. The area has a lot of water nearby. Any thoughts most welcome as it was not a bird I recognised, thanks

 

N

NickBrown

Well-known member

• Mar 2, 2025

• #2

Only bird I can think of that would fit that description is Lapwing

 

N

NickBrown

Well-known member

• Mar 2, 2025

• #3

Something like this? In harsh light they can look quite black, if they’re flying away you may not see the white underparts. Wide wings check out, as does the white rump and habitat. ML230921031 - Northern Lapwing - Macaulay Library

 

L

lizl

Member

• Mar 2, 2025

• #4

Hi Nick, thanks so much for your reply. I am quite familiar with lapwing as we're lucky enough to see them regularly here, so I'm fairly sure it wasn't a lapwing. This bird was way heavier and chunky looking though. That is a great photo though but I'm not sure

 

N

NickBrown

Well-known member

• Mar 2, 2025

• #5

lizl said:

Hi Nick, thanks so much for your reply. I am quite familiar with lapwing as we're lucky enough to see them regularly here, so I'm fairly sure it wasn't a lapwing. This bird was way heavier and chunky looking though. That is a great photo though but I'm not sure

Click to expand...

Heavier looking than a lapwing discounts other white rumped waders. A ringtail Hen Harrier wouldn’t just be described as larger than a blackbird… out of ideas for the moment.

 

Jinac

Well-known member

• Mar 2, 2025

• #6

Stock dove ?
Out of others ideas for grey/black with pale rump....

 

Last edited: Mar 2, 2025

M

MalR

Well-known member

• Mar 2, 2025

• #7

Female bullfinch?

 

G

Gander

Well-known member

• Mar 2, 2025

• #8

Fieldfare? I know there is no solid blacks there, but in strong light, could it have been silhouetted? Certainly has the greys and pale rump.

 

tconzemi

Tom

Supporter

• Mar 2, 2025

• #9

Jay Bird Facts | Garrulus Glandarius

Although they are the most colourful members of the crow family, jays are actually quite difficult to see. Find out more

www.rspb.org.uk

Not really black and grey but size, looping flight and white rump.

 

D

Derbyfella

Well-known member

• Mar 2, 2025

• #10

tconzemi said:

Jay Bird Facts | Garrulus Glandarius

Although they are the most colourful members of the crow family, jays are actually quite difficult to see. Find out more

www.rspb.org.uk

Not really black and grey but size, looping flight and white rump.

Click to expand...

I think Jay....

or possibly greater spotted woodpecker

 

dantheman

Bah humbug

• Mar 2, 2025

• #11

tconzemi said:

[
Not really black and grey but size, looping flight and white rump.

Click to expand...

+ chunky and wide wings in the OP description fit well. (Probably just a Nutcracker though.)

lizl said:

This morning, March 2, saw a bird flying across a field, looping flight about hedge height. It was a chunky looking bird, bigger than a blackbird, with wide wings.
It was a really bright clear day and it appeared a solid black and dark grey colour but most distinctive feature was a white rump visible as it flew. The area has a lot of water nearby. Any thoughts most welcome as it was not a bird I recognised, thanks

Click to expand...

And welcome to BF ;-)

 

D

Derbyfella

Well-known member

• Mar 2, 2025

• #12

Also a video here, shows the bouncing flight and the B-road wings
Unfortunately doesn’t show the white panel that you would see if you were behind it.

 

Stephen Dunstan

Registered User

• Mar 2, 2025

• #13

MalR said:

Female bullfinch?

Click to expand...

Does anyone ever see a Bullfinch in flight and think it looks bigger than a Blackbird?

 

dantheman

Bah humbug

• Mar 2, 2025

• #14

Stephen Dunstan said:

Does anyone ever see a Bullfinch in flight and think it looks bigger than a Blackbird?

Click to expand...

Yes, and no

;-)

 

L

lizl

Member

• Mar 2, 2025

• #15

Thanks so much to everyone for your thoughtful replies and suggestions. As a first time poster I'm so impressed with the helpful ideas put forward

 

M

MalR

Well-known member

• Mar 3, 2025

• #16

Stephen Dunstan said:

Does anyone ever see a Bullfinch in flight and think it looks bigger than a Blackbird?

Click to expand...

Depending how far away the bird was, it would be impossible to make such a call. My (very) tentative suggestion was based more on the plumage and the description of the bird as chunky. I admit I didn't think it was very likely; just throwing another option out there.

Malcolm

 

RichieTwitchy

YNWA

• Mar 3, 2025

• #17

Leucistic corvid?