Twite in Bulgaria? (1 Viewer)

[Onemis]

Hello everyone,
this bird was photographed in SE Bulgaria and was first identified as a Twite, which is quite rare over here, but later some doubts about its ID occurred. I'll be glad here your opinions about it?
Regards,
Simeon

 

[KenM]

It's a Meadow Pipit.

Cheers

 

[SteveClifton]

It's a Meadow Pipit.

Cheers

Looks more like a bunting sp. to me Ken (but definitely not getting a Twite 'feel' from this bird!)

 

[KenM]

Looks more like a bunting sp. to me Ken (but definitely not getting a Twite 'feel' from this bird!)

You're probably right Steve, the bill or what can be seen as the bill, looks a little odd! The head-on image does show a deeper bill than what might be expected from a mipit. Even if the bill was the correct shape, it's the wrong colour, as is the plumage for Twite. Being rather non-descript, with a flesh coloured bill, I can only compute Corn Bunting?

 

[P.Sunesen]

Does look like a Corn Bunting, but what date was the photo taken? It looks as if it is moulting....

Peter

 

[BirdingRob]

Have you considered female yellowhammer? I think there is a hint of a chestnut rump.

Rob

 

[Gerdzhikov]

Hello, pictures are mine. I saw this bird on 26.10.2011. Bird was very small. May be size of Siskin, not bigger. I`m sure that this is not any bunting, it`s something very small. On the third picture you can see very small yellow bill, this is not bill of bunting

 

[Jean FRANCOIS]

Emberiza pusilla.
Amicalement

 

[Nutcracker]

Emberiza pusilla.
Amicalement

That surprised me when I saw the post, but on looking at the pics again, I agree :t:

 

[KenM]

A very challenging set of shots!....I subsequently trawled Little Bunting Images and discovered that seemingly, perhaps more frequently observed on 1st Winter birds, flesh coloured tint to the bill was not uncommonly seen on a number of pics.?

Don't know if this is a ''Bunting'' thing particularly with 1st Winter birds?....reminded me of a Reed Bunting shot that I took locally during October, this also seems to be sporting a flesh tint to the lower mandible (in particular)...or is it a ''light ambience'' thing affecting bare parts at certain angles......Dunno ?

 

[Giroud Marc]

Clearly not a Little Bunting IMO : no rusty tone on the head and mantle, no black stripe on the head... I'm seeing only one tertial, and the pattern of this one fit Corn Bunting, and no other species of bunting...

 

[Bryon Wright]

The graduated tail, probably broken rather than growing outer tail, is trapped between a tertial and the primaries. If it is not a corn, then just for a laugh it looks like an escaped exotic rosefinch? It is as the man says looming very dainty?

 

[KGS]

Agree with Corn Bunting

 

[osprey123]

Corn Bunting for me too.

 

[Onemis]

That's a processed picture that a colleague of mine has done and you can see the rusty tinge on the face of this bird.
I definitely cannot agree with a Corn Bunting. The bird is very small as the author says and WHERE IS THE BILL of this Corn Bunting. From what I see as a bill it is very small and situated quite low on the head, the head is very small as well. On some of the better pics you can see stripes on the face, and on the processed one the tipical crown stripes of a Little Bunting. Unfortunately the wing coverts are hidden on all pics.
IMO this bird could be a Little Bunting

 

[Jane Turner]

My 1st thought (don't laugh) was Chestnut-eared!

 

[stevo]

Reed bunting for me.

Cheers.

Steve.

 

[Onemis]

Reed bunting for me.

Cheers.

Steve.

That's my other suggestion despite I would expect stronger face stripes and darker bill. But regarding the quality of the pics I can't fully exclude this option.

 

[P.Sunesen]

Little Buntings have neat stripes on their backs, and the flanks/breast don't fit either.

Fun thread:t::king:

Peter

 

[bitterntwisted]

It's a meadow pipit that's been (badly) photoshopped.