Hawfinch, Austria. One or two? M or F? (1 Viewer)

DanC.Licks

AKA Daniel Bradley

• Jan 21, 2013

• #1

I got a big surprise when I looked into my camera one morning expecting a Sparrow and got this:

Taken on the 27th of September, 2012. We didn't see a Hawfinch again until the 3rd of November:

From then on he has been a regular; easy to spot because of his damaged left wing.


So my question is, is the first one a different bird, or is it the same one that damaged its wing between the 27th of September and the 3rd of November? Male? Female?

 

Last edited: Jan 21, 2013

chris butterworth

aka The Person Named Above

• Jan 21, 2013

• #2

They are all of an adult male. The 'damage' on the wing is the'club-shaped' tips to the outer secondary feathers. They would look grey in a female plus the 'face' would be duller / less cleanly marked.

Chris

p.s. If you're talking about the drooping wing then birds often injure the joints in the wing and carry it like the photo shows for a while.

C

 

DanC.Licks

AKA Daniel Bradley

• Jan 21, 2013

• #3

Yes, that is what I meant. Sometimes it droops more than other times. He seems quite sociable, though I have only been able to get one shot of him outside and not through the window.


And one other in a neighbor's tree

 

Last edited: Jan 21, 2013

chris butterworth

aka The Person Named Above

• Jan 21, 2013

• #4

It's a bit like when you pull a muscle and tend to favour that leg / arm for a bit. Jealous of you getting such views and in your garden. Nice photos.

Chris

 

KenM

Well-known member

• Jan 21, 2013

• #5

Dan your close-up head shot is superb!...just imagine that current ''fleshy white'' bill in March/April..morphing into ''gun metal blue''....a truly spectacular species.

 

foresttwitcher

Virtually unknown member

• Jan 21, 2013

• #6

3 great birds for a garden bird-table!

 

DanC.Licks

AKA Daniel Bradley

• Jan 22, 2013

• #7

3? Seems to me it is all the same bird. Here again for breakfast o

 

Chris-Leeds

Well-known member

• Jan 22, 2013

• #8

I think he meant the nuthatch and tree sparrow as well.

 

DanC.Licks

AKA Daniel Bradley

• Jan 22, 2013

• #9

Ah....yes! The Nuthatch....big time bully. Sometimes really funny when the feeder is full of sparrows, and he come flying in full bore like a live torpedo and they scatter every which way. I am surprised he didn't chase the Hawfinch away!

 

DanC.Licks

AKA Daniel Bradley

• Jan 22, 2013

• #10

He seems to have been picking at his hurt wing. I haven't seen those smaller feathers sticking out yet.