Unknown BIRD , Devon coast, UK (1 Viewer)

[Musoman]

Bit of a poor shot, but we have some very knowledgable folk who i supsect will tell me what this bird is.

Taken at the weekend on Burgh Island, Devon

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello Pete,

its a juvenile Redpoll imo. They still lack the black chin, but when you add this the right head pattern appears.

A striking white one with pale upperparts. Yes, there are different forms/ssp. and it would be a striking bird in Germany. But I cant separate most/nearly all of them ....

 

[Musoman]

Thanks Alexander !! We have Common and Lesser Redpolls, but the Lesser is on the red endangered list so probably much rarer.

 

[THE_FERN]

Thanks Alexander !! We have Common and Lesser Redpolls, but the Lesser is on the red endangered list so probably much rarer.

"Lesser" redpoll is the default UK one. "Common" is on the continent. But the evidence is that these are just well marked (and variable) forms of one polytypic species and individuals with one or more intermediate character are quite frequent.

 

[SteveClifton]

Juvenile Linnet. Note the extensive white tail sides.

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello Steve and Bewick, Payaminotom , Derbyfella, PW23 and John,

thanks for correction!

Yes, the extensive white tail sides should make this a Linnet (I sorted this in the artefact section, which was not advisable I realize now).

No offence you know: its still a hard bird for me, and I still see

• obvious white tips to median coverts, creating a second wingbar???
• contrastingly streaky tramlines on a greyish back with a whitish center
• I would expect to see a more obvious pale panel on the secondaries, if this would be a juvenile Linnet. But I think now, that fluffed flank feathers might well hide this?
• pale and contrasting greyish/whitish overall impression is ok for juvenile Redpolls
• a crisp, contrasting tertial pattern, a real feature???
• and yes, the head pattern seems slightly better for a Linett, but still ok for a Redpoll

Is this an unusual pale, even leucistic Linett? I cant remember having seen such a striking individual before.

Do you have more pictures?

Yes, this might well come out as an offensive way to defend my ID, but you know this is a deep interest in identification
and therefore most important: thanks Steve and all again!

And yes, the white in the tail ...

 

[jogresh]

Yes I think a juv Linnet, tho it does look slightly odd, and does resemble a Redpoll. But a Linnet I reckon.

 

[THE_FERN]

(fwiw, my immediate impression was linnet but the very streaky back looks off for that species. I'm unsure)

 

[jogresh]

Yes it's the back/mantle that looks odd to me too. The face looks Linnety though. Location probably much more favourable for juv Linnet than Redpoll.. 🤔🐦

 

[wheatearlp]

Might photo artefacts account for the 'odd' look of the upperparts? I'd agree that it is a Linnet (face/head pattern, warm brown in the coverts, white outer-tail) but it does look strange. Also agree Linnet is the most likely finch on Burgh Island.

 

[Andy Adcock]

(fwiw, my immediate impression was linnet but the very streaky back looks off for that species. I'm unsure)

Ditto

 

[Stephen Dunstan]

The contrast in the photo is very strong, but I don't think it looks strange for a Linnet. You can even see the pale spot on the cheek.

 

[SteveClifton]

I agree it is a more contrasty looking individual than most (perhaps enhanced by over aggressive in-camera jpeg processing?). The linked bird is the nearest I could find in a quick search. As others have said, the face pattern is more Linnet than Redpoll, amongst other things.
https://www.oiseaux.net/photos/jean-marie.poncelet/images/linotte.melodieuse.jmpo.52g.jpg

 

[Musoman]

Thanks all, the photo was a poor shot because i dare not creep any closer for fear of making it fly, i was too far away really. But i was also getting buffetted by the strong winds on Burgh Island, so couldnt keep still, and even the steadyshot wasnt helping. I nearly got felled by the wind a couple of times.

So i've tried to make the photo clearer, by whatever methods, so it could be I.D.'d
I guess some in-camera processing hasnt helped.

Lets's call it a Linnpoll ( or a Rednet ? )

 

[Mike Earp]

Lets's call it a Linnpoll ( or a Rednet ? )

Call it a Linnet, as that is what it is!

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello,

I hope this comes out as its intended to be (you know...):
is it possible to see the original picture and do you have more pictures? Thanks!

 

[Musoman]

Call it a Linnet, as that is what it is!

Calm down. Just a joke.

 

[Musoman]

Hello,

I hope this comes out as its intended to be (you know...):
is it possible to see the original picture and do you have more pictures? Thanks!

Sorry Alexander, no more pictures. I'll see if i can resurrect the original though. I got just one shot off before it flew

 

[Musoman]

This is the only shot, just cropped down from 5,000 pix

 

[aeshna5]

This is the only shot, just cropped down from 5,000 pix


View attachment 1526550

Clearly a Linnet to my eyes.