Small white/brown bird ID - England, Manchester (1 Viewer)

[CrazyDunnock]

My mother's just phoned me to identify a bird but I'm stumped.

Spotted in her garden, Manchester (Prestwich) suburban area.

Small, sparrow sized but sleeker, more 'sloped'.
White sides with biscuit brown back, smooth brown not streaked.
Very beautiful (subjective I know!) and was apparently unconcerned with her coming fairly close until it flew off.

Unfortunately no photo.

I'm normally good with the local birds but can't think what this could be!

 

[Butty]

can't think what this could be!

...nor can anyone else - but it'll be a dunnock - despite all the bits that don't fit

 

[THE_FERN]

...nor can anyone else - but it'll be a dunnock - despite all the bits that don't fit

most likely, but if not, then immature robin

 

[CrazyDunnock]

Ah well I guess so.... was hoping for something super rare haha

 

[stevethehydra]

Sounds a bit like a Goldfinch missing its red and gold bits to me. Juvenile or leucistic?

Or some escaped canary/hybrid finch type thing?

 

[stevethehydra]

Another "outside the box" thought - Sand Martin? Would be a bit out of place in a suburban garden, but maybe tame behaviour could be related to it being "lost"/exhausted (maybe connected to the extreme heat?)

 

[pianoman]

Throwing in Whitethroat, Garden Warbler and female Blackcap in the mix! Possibly juvenile Starling who sometimes feature in these cases