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New - Can’t figure out what bird this is? (Surrey UK) (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Tom_V
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Welcome to Birdforum Tom. I think your bird is a female Chaffinch. It is difficult as the face and wing are hidden
Alexander Stöhr
Well-known member
Hello Tom,
welcome to birdforum!
Normally I would write, that this is a bird for quiz-modus, but I hesitate to write this, with a new member. I habve thought for other word to describe it, but as a non-native speaker, I am not good in this.
So I hope you are not offended, but this a the term I use, to explain, when a picture is to difficult for me to ger a sure ID. But there are others, who can jump in.
First impression: its a Finch or Sparrow.
Best looking Finch is a Greenfinch, they can look quite uniform coloured, but colour is the wrong brown for this species (but does the window results in a colour shift?). More, I would expect to see green or yellow-green in the wing and tail. And I got the impression that your birrd looks to compact and small for a Greenfinch.
So its either a Tree or House Sparrow. But which one? Folowing ponts are better for Tree imo:
-compact, small, short-tailed jizz
-little contrast between cap and flanks, both areas show a similar tone
-colour of the head is very good for a drab, pale Tree Sparrow, espacially when a picture through a window-effect is considered, that reduces contrast and adds a greyish overlay on the picture.
-shouldnt thr dark pattern and pale wing-bars be seen here, despite picture quality? I think, propably not, but I am not sure.
I dont see an European Robin, but its just a gut feeling.
Conclusion? I know, all the mentioned points cant be judged with certainty here, but I would say Tree Saprrow (or Greenfinch?), if I am forced to put a name to this bird.
Are there more pictures of this bird?
welcome to birdforum!
Normally I would write, that this is a bird for quiz-modus, but I hesitate to write this, with a new member. I habve thought for other word to describe it, but as a non-native speaker, I am not good in this.
So I hope you are not offended, but this a the term I use, to explain, when a picture is to difficult for me to ger a sure ID. But there are others, who can jump in.
First impression: its a Finch or Sparrow.
Best looking Finch is a Greenfinch, they can look quite uniform coloured, but colour is the wrong brown for this species (but does the window results in a colour shift?). More, I would expect to see green or yellow-green in the wing and tail. And I got the impression that your birrd looks to compact and small for a Greenfinch.
So its either a Tree or House Sparrow. But which one? Folowing ponts are better for Tree imo:
-compact, small, short-tailed jizz
-little contrast between cap and flanks, both areas show a similar tone
-colour of the head is very good for a drab, pale Tree Sparrow, espacially when a picture through a window-effect is considered, that reduces contrast and adds a greyish overlay on the picture.
-shouldnt thr dark pattern and pale wing-bars be seen here, despite picture quality? I think, propably not, but I am not sure.
I dont see an European Robin, but its just a gut feeling.
Conclusion? I know, all the mentioned points cant be judged with certainty here, but I would say Tree Saprrow (or Greenfinch?), if I am forced to put a name to this bird.
Are there more pictures of this bird?
Alexander Stöhr
Well-known member
Yes, Andy, thannk you for that!
I thought a Chaffinch can be excluded by well visible black and white areas in the wing. They would be visible, even in a bad picture (you know, that my own pictures are even worser, normally), but, you may be right: we are looking on the breast of the bird here????
I thought a Chaffinch can be excluded by well visible black and white areas in the wing. They would be visible, even in a bad picture (you know, that my own pictures are even worser, normally), but, you may be right: we are looking on the breast of the bird here????
I think so, but I'm not sure which way the head is facing. If it is towards us and that is an eye then I think Chaffinch, but if it is looking away, then Im not so sure
Deb Burhinus
Used to be well known! 😎
It’s a male Chaffinch
You can even see the white outer tail feathers and black face patch (in winter the crown is a variable admix of grey and dark pink)
You can even see the white outer tail feathers and black face patch (in winter the crown is a variable admix of grey and dark pink)
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Thanks for all your replies! I have a few more photos if these help however these are probably even worse quality!
Tom
Tom
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Hi Tom and a warm welcome to you from all the Staff and Moderators.
Although I think it probably won't be identified with any certainty, I'm in the Chaffinch camp. That's if I'm looking at an angle I think I'm looking at LOL.
I'm sure you will enjoy it here and I look forward to hearing your news.
Although I think it probably won't be identified with any certainty, I'm in the Chaffinch camp. That's if I'm looking at an angle I think I'm looking at LOL.
I'm sure you will enjoy it here and I look forward to hearing your news.
Jay
Deb Burhinus
Used to be well known! 😎
Indeed!
The new images show it to be far too big for a Chaffinch and the face shows the ‘black face patch’ is actually a malar stripe (or maybe that’s a branch) but any way with the shed for foreground, it completely changes the perception of distance (and therefore size!)
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Alexander Stöhr
Well-known member
Wow,
this is one of the best (the best?) pitfall picture I have ever seen. Agree (of course) with Jay with the new pictures.
But even when knowing the right answer, I still struggle to see a Jay in the first picture. Only the, what appears now to be, black tail contrasting with brown body and head (yes, good colouration for a Jay) gives some hint, when knowing, that this has to be a Jay.
Thanks for sharing and to all others for the intersting and helpful answers!
this is one of the best (the best?) pitfall picture I have ever seen. Agree (of course) with Jay with the new pictures.
But even when knowing the right answer, I still struggle to see a Jay in the first picture. Only the, what appears now to be, black tail contrasting with brown body and head (yes, good colouration for a Jay) gives some hint, when knowing, that this has to be a Jay.
Thanks for sharing and to all others for the intersting and helpful answers!
Deb Burhinus
Used to be well known! 😎
Totally agree Alex - we were all fooled by the first image - that was one of your famous ‘pitfall’ examples 🙂 The ‘pitfall’ here I think was the deceptive distance - it’s not until you see the shed and window from which the image is taken, that you realise how far away it is, then of course the only pinky buff UK bird that size is a Jay - Telephoto lenses! 😳
Deb Burhinus
Used to be well known! 😎
You’re going for a Sibe then? 😁
Deb Burhinus
Used to be well known! 😎
Tom - what size bird do you reckon it was closest to - a magpie, a blackbird or a Robin? 🙂
Definitely a magpie, it was much larger than a robin
Deb Burhinus
Used to be well known! 😎
I think we are safe with the Jay then 😉
