Dunnock with black & white wings?? (1 Viewer)

[LouiseS]

Hi everyone,
I'm new to this so I hope you can help please. I saw this little bird in a bush by the coast at Coverack, Cornwall. I'm told it's a dunnock but the only ones I've ever seen have had streaks. Also I've never seen one with black and white wing feathers. Apologies for the quality of the photos. It was quite a way off. Let me know if you want me to try and enlarge these pics as at this size they look tiny. Look forward to hearing your comments. Many thanks.

P.S. Just to say I've posted enlarged photos further down in the thread.

 

[dwatsonbirder]

Looks like a standard dunnock to me, can't see the black or white on the wings though.

 

[LouiseS]

Hi Daniel, Many thanks for your reply. Sorry, I realise now I should have sharpened the images before posting them. The black and white feathers are on the first two pictures. If you click on them can you enlarge them in any way? Best wishes, Louise

 

[P.Sunesen]

Hi,
You cannot see the wings on these pictures, and I doubt that thy were indeed black and white.
What is unusual, however, is the white patch of on the belly.
It's not that rare to see birds lacking pigments in part of, or the whole plumage. Leucism is the word to employ.
Feathers grow in tracts, and this is the reason why the seemingly black area on the belly are merely caused by light and shadow, together with the fact that the bases of the feathers are very dark, so that when the birds raises its the feathers, the featherless section along the breast appear all dark.

Peter

 

[_pauls]

Are you sure the black and white aren't just tricks of the light of as the wind ruffles its feathers?

 

[LouiseS]

Definite black and white wing tips.

Hi all, definitely black and white. Black at the tip of the wing and then white. Also, as you say definite white patch on belly. I will go back to my photos and try to sharpen and enlarge and then post again in a minute. Best regards to all, Louise

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

Hi Louise. Last Sunday every other gorse bush around The Mumbles seemed to have a Dunnock on it.

Rich

 

[LouiseS]

Odd colour dunnock

Hi all, I've enlarged and cropped one of my "dunnock" pictures. Hope you can see the black and white wing feathers. Best wishes, Louise

Just added a second enlarged, poor pic.

 

[JustinG]

There is a branch ruffling up the feathers on the front of the bird, making the bird look like it is white on the chest..

 

[tconzemi]

There is a branch ruffling up the feathers on the front of the bird, making the bird look like it is white on the chest..

agreed, no wing visible here, it's a trick of the light creating a phantom wing

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

Welcome to BF btw.

Rich

 

[LouiseS]

Thank you everyone for your help and welcome wishes. Trust me to find a dunnock with white feathers. Very best wishes to everyone.

 

[birdboybowley]

There are no white feathers Louise - just the ruffled up grey feathers highlighted in the sun