Reed Bunting? N.Yorkshire (1 Viewer)

Is this just a Reed Bunting,just that its head and bill shape and colour is throwing me.Thanks in advance.

Yes Reed Bunting :t:

Pallas's bunting

arcadillor said:

Pallas's bunting

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Now that would be a timely gift for this week.

Ditto to Reed Bunting, female - pic is over-exposed, making it look paler than reality :t:

While Reed buntings are variable and similar coloured paler birds like yours are regular ( and I am with Nutcracker that overexposure adds to the paleness in this bird), I understand, why you post this photo here:

bill shape seems realy slightly unusual for a Reed bunting, to narrow based and with a concav culmen (but I have seen similar Reed before, but they still had a slightly deeper bill-base)
I have looking for Reed buntings with a pinkish/flesh lower mandible in Europe for years now, and still havent found one.
Im not sure about the bill colour, I have the gut feeling that the flesh coloured bill in your bird is an artefact and doesnt represent the real colour of your bird.

But as these two points are features of Pallas RB according to literature, I hope for more comments from birders with experience of this species and more pictures. They might be helpfull in judging the real bill-colour.

Edit: i agree with all, that with more photos this bird will turn into a Reed bunting, but who knows?

Unusually plumaged or appears to be in the photo but the bill should be smaller and more ‘conical’ iirc...

Laurie:t:

SteveClifton said:

Yes Reed Bunting :t:

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agreed