Saw a bird I did not recognise this morning in Tenerife. It was about the size of a Blackbird. Dark grey with a light grey breast and neck. It had a small reddish beak. Red legs and red spectacles round its eyes. Also small white spots on its upper wings. When it took off it moved like a wagtail. Does anyone know what it was.
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Tenerife (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter kellyman
- Start date
stonechat1
New member
AFAIK they aren´t the size of a blackbird, Niels?
Even the best observers make misjudgments of size when looking at unusual (to them) birds in unusual (to them) places. If you do not want to take my words for it, then read Ken Kaufman's introduction to his Advanced birding (1st edition) (I think this is a newer binding of the one I am referring to: http://www.amazon.com/Peterson-Fiel...1840&sr=1-7&keywords=kaufman+advanced+birding).
For that reason, I did not let size limit the choice of bird I was thinking of.
Niels
Edit: though I just now notice that the place might not be unusual to the OP
For that reason, I did not let size limit the choice of bird I was thinking of.
Niels
Edit: though I just now notice that the place might not be unusual to the OP
No. It was a much darker grey and the markings were around the eyes like spectacles.
Thanks for the reply Niels.
It was sighted on the edge of a seaside town about 100 metres from the sea.
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phil baber
Clipped Wing
Phil, and to give you the opus page for that species you made two links to 
http://www.birdforum.net/opus/Red-whiskered_Bulbul
Niels
Edit: there are a number of finches with red in the face in varying amounts.
http://www.birdforum.net/opus/Red-whiskered_Bulbul
Niels
Edit: there are a number of finches with red in the face in varying amounts.
phil baber
Clipped Wing
Red-Billed Leothrix and Trumpeter Finch are others that come close. But none seem to match the OP description.
phil baber
Clipped Wing
Female Red Avadavat may also fit the bill...
http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/files/2013/02/Red-Avadavat-Pranesh-Kodancha-950x666.jpg
http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/files/2013/02/Red-Avadavat-Pranesh-Kodancha-950x666.jpg
stonechat1
New member
Nice image, Phil. Sadly the size is wrong, same with "the spectacles" which this species is missing. And I don´t remember that they are moving on the ground like wagtails.
This is a very though request, trying to ID the bird but with no result. First I thought Kelly is describing a bulbul species, but there´s no species which fits perfect. Same with thrushes, the best bet seems to be the Olive Thrush.: http://ibc.lynxeds.com/files/pictures/OliveThrush.jpg
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Thought that myself Niels. I have never seen anything like it around here in the six years I have lived here. Also it let me get quite close to it. Just sorry i didn´t have my camera with me but I was off shopping at the time.
Stuart Darbyshire
45th generation Northern
stonechat1
New member
Except for the wrong colored bill a great find, Stuart!
Guess a sketch could help.
http://www.birdforum.net/opus/Red-legged_Thrush -- I have not heard of this one being a target in the pet trade, but I could be wrong
Niels
Niels
stonechat1
New member
Neither did I. Nor did I see this species on any exhibition (mostly blackbirds with mutations and Song Thrushes).
Just wondered :
That doesnt fit exactly I agree , but seen with a tricky light making the bill look reddish, and white trailing on the wings, like white spots, why not a sardinian warbler?
lot smaller than blackbird, but still a stocky looking warbler :
http://500px.com/photo/17658923
http://pat.marques.oiseaux.net/fauvette.melanocephale.1.html#monde
That doesnt fit exactly I agree , but seen with a tricky light making the bill look reddish, and white trailing on the wings, like white spots, why not a sardinian warbler?
lot smaller than blackbird, but still a stocky looking warbler :
http://500px.com/photo/17658923
http://pat.marques.oiseaux.net/fauvette.melanocephale.1.html#monde
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