Dear all,
This morning I saw in my neighbour's garden what I first presumed to be a bright male Greenfinch. I hadn't time to get my binoculars on itbecause the bird flew to escape the cat that was staking it. I wouldn't have thought any more of it except that twenty minutes later it was feeding on seed I put out for the birds in my garden and one look through the kitchen window soon had me reaching for my video.
Clearly this was no Greenfinch. The green body colouration was too yellow tinted and the mantle was heavily streaked although the finch-type pale bill was similar. The rump was yellow and unmarked. Fortunately the bird has remained in the garden throughout the day and I've managed to get a good amount of video of it (see videograbs).
It has been singing on and off but I couldn't really hear the song very well through the windows.
I believe it is likely to be an escaped cage bird (it is unringed by the way - I checked!);I personally think it is probably a Canary of some description, although if it is, I can understand why it'd be the one the Pet Shop couldn't sell because unless the sunlight hits it, to be honest, it is quite drab. Typically it looks greenish and non-descript. Maybe it sings well so looks aren't everything?
I'd be pleased to hear from anyone who can put a name to this bird. Maybe it is a hybrid variety of Canary known to aviculturalists? I did even consider the unlikely possibility of it being a hybrid between a Greenfinch and Siskin, because it seems to show features of both. Whatever it is, it's given me something to get my teeth into today (although the neighbour's cat would have liked to have taken this statement a little more literally!).
Thanks,
Lancey
This morning I saw in my neighbour's garden what I first presumed to be a bright male Greenfinch. I hadn't time to get my binoculars on itbecause the bird flew to escape the cat that was staking it. I wouldn't have thought any more of it except that twenty minutes later it was feeding on seed I put out for the birds in my garden and one look through the kitchen window soon had me reaching for my video.
Clearly this was no Greenfinch. The green body colouration was too yellow tinted and the mantle was heavily streaked although the finch-type pale bill was similar. The rump was yellow and unmarked. Fortunately the bird has remained in the garden throughout the day and I've managed to get a good amount of video of it (see videograbs).
It has been singing on and off but I couldn't really hear the song very well through the windows.
I believe it is likely to be an escaped cage bird (it is unringed by the way - I checked!);I personally think it is probably a Canary of some description, although if it is, I can understand why it'd be the one the Pet Shop couldn't sell because unless the sunlight hits it, to be honest, it is quite drab. Typically it looks greenish and non-descript. Maybe it sings well so looks aren't everything?
I'd be pleased to hear from anyone who can put a name to this bird. Maybe it is a hybrid variety of Canary known to aviculturalists? I did even consider the unlikely possibility of it being a hybrid between a Greenfinch and Siskin, because it seems to show features of both. Whatever it is, it's given me something to get my teeth into today (although the neighbour's cat would have liked to have taken this statement a little more literally!).
Thanks,
Lancey
