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crossblll, Yorks (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter davpen
- Start date
Andy Adcock
Worst person on Birdforum
Not just the bill, hard to tell in flight but it looks chunky and thick necked to me?
This almost looks like the same shot.....
https://www.picfair.com/pics/08474795-parrot-crossbill-loxia-pytyopsittacus
This almost looks like the same shot.....
https://www.picfair.com/pics/08474795-parrot-crossbill-loxia-pytyopsittacus
Last edited:
Larry Sweetland
Formerly 'Larry Wheatland'
The thing I'd worry about is if the camera had caught the bird at the exact point that it had openned/closed it's bill, as this can sometimes make a bird's bill look the wrong shape. So other pics of the same bird could dismiss that worry.
Andy Adcock
Worst person on Birdforum
That won't change the shape of the bird or the apparent thickness of it's neck Larry?
Larry Sweetland
Formerly 'Larry Wheatland'
Probably not, but the whole image is quite blurred at the edge. I just don't trust single images of birds Andy, they can be deceptive in all kinds of ways!
Nutcracker
Stop Brexit!
Agree looks good for Parrot Xbill. The bill looks fully closed to me - if it was open wide enough to affect its apparent shape, you'd be able to see sky between the mandibles.
Larry Sweetland
Formerly 'Larry Wheatland'
I didn't mean that at all. I meant that sometimes that sometimes a camera will capture the bill as it moves and make it look bigger. It can be extreme, eg there was a pic of a Moorhen on here once with a bill about twice as long as it really was, just because it was moving it's head.
Point taken Larry, but I got a handful of other shots at the same time, and all show the bill as on this one. As it happens, it's only in the last few days that I've got round to looking at them properly. Anyway, regarding the size and shape, it's good to know it's not just me.
I should add here that this was one of two birds, and our attention was first drawn to them when we heard crossbill flight calls, albeit rather unusual-sounding ones (this being commented upon at the time). We had a sound recorder running, and it managed to pick the calls up. See https://www.xeno-canto.org/504233
The problem is that as well as sounding quite unusual for Common, they aren't really like typical Parrot either(?). Then again, we can't even be absolutely certain that the calls were emanating from the bird in the pic.
I should add here that this was one of two birds, and our attention was first drawn to them when we heard crossbill flight calls, albeit rather unusual-sounding ones (this being commented upon at the time). We had a sound recorder running, and it managed to pick the calls up. See https://www.xeno-canto.org/504233
The problem is that as well as sounding quite unusual for Common, they aren't really like typical Parrot either(?). Then again, we can't even be absolutely certain that the calls were emanating from the bird in the pic.
Larry Sweetland
Formerly 'Larry Wheatland'
Cool, looks good to me too then :t:. Unless they're Scottish Crossbill:-O
Andy Adcock
Worst person on Birdforum
Don't laugh Larry, I was just about to suggest comparing the call to that species!
Given the location 'North' and that birds with the same bill shape / size as Scotbill have been trapped in Derbyshire, it needs to be ruled out?
Nutcracker
Stop Brexit!
Naaah . . . that location is a long way South
:king:Got to be north of 55°N for it to be 'North' :t:
rollingthunder
Well-known member
I have to say - it does look a chunky bugger and a good flight capture compared to my efforts:t:
Laurie -
Laurie -
