Possible Linnet, Nottingham, UK (1 Viewer)

[Ben M]

I saw this out of my window at the end of the garden this morning. I first thought it was a Dunnock, as a pair are nesting in the conifer hedge it's on, but when it sang I took more interest. I don't recall the song enough to describe it, only that it didn't sound like the Dunnock song I've been hearing everyday for the past few weeks.

Since the camcorder was to hand I got some footage, but before I could get the bins it had gone. The bill looks/looked more finch-like to me. I've never had good views of Linnet, but that's what I suspect it might be. Although I'd have expected more pink/red tones at this time of year - especially in comparison to the very pink Lesser Redpoll I've been seeing.

Here are links to the same bit of footage with varying quality:
Low Quality AVI (7.2MB)
High(er) Quality AVI (11.1MB requires Xvid codec)

For what it's worth, my camcorder tends to brighten and reduce contrast in the colours it captures.

There's some birdsong two-thirds of the way through the footage, which may or may not be this bird.

 

[Ian Hamiltan]

hi ben
its a dunnock.

 

[Ben M]

hi ben
its a dunnock.

Hi Ian,

Why?

 

[wolfbirder]

colours of plummage - grey and brown tones. looks a nailed on dunnock to me.

 

[Ian Hamiltan]

Hi Ian,

Why?

hello again ben
grey head and breast

 

[Ben M]

Well I agree that the body tones point towards Dunnock, hence my initial impression. Does anyone else see a bill that's too short and finch-like and a dark tail that's too long for Dunnock?

 

[Ian Hamiltan]

Well I agree that the body tones point towards Dunnock, hence my initial impression. Does anyone else see a bill that's too short and finch-like and a dark tail that's too long for Dunnock?

sorry ben,but i cant see any bill or tail differance to any other
dunnock.

 

[bitterntwisted]

I can only see the lo-res video and I can't dismiss it as a dunnock from that. But I can see what you're getting at, Ben. If I try to I think I can see chestnutty tones to mantle and coverts, dark tail, and dark primaries. But the lo-res video is not great and to be honest it could be a dunnock or a linnet from what I see on my screen! Any chance of grabbing stills from the high-res version?

Graham

 

[Ian Hamiltan]

I can only see the lo-res video and I can't dismiss it as a dunnock from that. But I can see what you're getting at, Ben. If I try to I think I can see chestnutty tones to mantle and coverts, dark tail, and dark primaries. But the lo-res video is not great and to be honest it could be a dunnock or a linnet from what I see on my screen! Any chance of grabbing stills from the high-res version?

Graham

no doubt about it,it is a dunnock.

 

[Ben M]

I can only see the lo-res video and I can't dismiss it as a dunnock from that. But I can see what you're getting at, Ben. If I try to I think I can see chestnutty tones to mantle and coverts, dark tail, and dark primaries. But the lo-res video is not great and to be honest it could be a dunnock or a linnet from what I see on my screen! Any chance of grabbing stills from the high-res version?

Graham

I didn't grab stills originally because the low contrast makes it hard to distinguish the bird's exact outline against the background and a moving image does this better. Anyway, attached are a couple of uncropped stills that I think are in favour of a finch-like bird.

Here's a link to a .zip file containing 39 reasonable stills which can be downloaded unziped and cycled through to give a better idea of jizz:

2007-04-29-11-06-Garden-Unknown.zip (4.6MB)

I think some stills show a Dunnock-like bird and some a finch- or even bunting-like bird.

Long tail with a fork in stills 03-07, 09-11, 13-14, 17, 21, 22, 27, 34, 35
Shorter bill in stills 01-02, 09-10, 12, 18-20, 22-28, 31-33, 35-36, 38
Longer bill in stills 29-30, 34

With a pair of Dunnock nesting in this conifer hedge they are by far the most obvious candidate, I see them here every day, but in this case I'm not convinced.

 

[Ian Hamiltan]

I didn't grab stills originally because the low contrast makes it hard to distinguish the bird's exact outline against the background and a moving image does this better. Anyway, attached are a couple of uncropped stills that I think are in favour of a finch-like bird.

Here's a link to a .zip file containing 39 reasonable stills which can be downloaded unziped and cycled through to give a better idea of jizz:

2007-04-29-11-06-Garden-Unknown.zip (4.6MB)

I think some stills show a Dunnock-like bird and some a finch- or even bunting-like bird.

Long tail with a fork in stills 03-07, 09-11, 13-14, 17, 21, 22, 27, 34, 35
Shorter bill in stills 01-02, 09-10, 12, 18-20, 22-28, 31-33, 35-36, 38
Longer bill in stills 29-30, 34

With a pair of Dunnock nesting in this conifer hedge they are by far the most obvious candidate, I see them here every day, but in this case I'm not convinced.

hi ben
im still convinced its a dunnock.

 

[bitterntwisted]

Hi Ben,

Thanks for the stills. Have to agree with Dunnock. For a conclusive feature, note the dark surround to the ear coverts.

Graham

 

[Ben M]

Many thanks for your persistence and for taking the time to convince me too.

 

[pianoman]

Yet another vote for Dunnock, if it were needed. Have been fooled myself before by poor views of Dunnock - sometimes it's as if the grey can take on other colours depending on the light. Almost looks pink in evening light.

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Dunnock, but it did make me look twice.