BirdForum is the net's largest birding community dedicated to wild birds and birding, and is absolutely FREE!

Register for an account to take part in lively discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="BobTag" data-source="post: 1276032" data-attributes="member: 9076">Morning Milke,With images like this it's always hard to convince everyone, as many plumage markings are not visibile. However, by combining a lot of elements, one can be confident this is a Mippit;- Firstly, you mentioned Linnet and Chaffinch in your first posting. Note this bird has a thin, insect eater bill, rather than the broad-based bill of a seed eater. It's not a finch.- The tail shape is also wrong for a Linnet, which has a very 'pointy' tail- The long hind-claw is disagnostic for a pipit, although as you say there is the potential for vegetation to cause this.- It's worth thinking through any other options for a small brown bird sat on overhead wires with such a bill in the Shetlands. Dunnock is one posibility, but it would not show the light white-based flanks and belly of this bird, clearly visible if you blow the photo up a bit. Robin is also a possible, but the shape. strucuture and tail length all seem wrong to me, plus I would have expected to see some contrast on the face.So, for me at least, the jizz, location, behaviour, colouration, strucutre and markings as far as we can make out are all perfect for a Meadow Pipit, and I'd wager a considerable amount of money on that :t:BT</blockquote>