western France today : Bunting (1 Viewer)

[buck mulligan]

Hello

we got confused by this one

the brown crown
the white supercillium
the dark bill


help pls

cheers
B

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello Buck,

do you have more pictures of bird?
Yes, I agree with you at the end of the day it is a Reed Bunting, but with some appearantly (?more picture, please) interesting features:

• extremly pale, flesh feet (yes, dark legs seems sometimes paler on very cold dasy. Right or wrong? Reason? But thats my experience)
• slender, narrow based bill
• extensive pinkish-flesh lower mandible (an artefact, as you wrote the bill is all-dark? Yes, the recent thread!)

Other coloration is within variation for a Reed Bunting and the mentioned features too, I think. Please compare: A Pretty Female Reed Bunting Emberiza Schoeniclus Perched On A Twig In A Tree. Stock Image - Image of beak, background: 108686071

Conclusion? If forced, I would ID your bird as a Reed Bunting, but one that is worth a double check.
More pictures and comments, please! Thanks!

 

[buck mulligan]

Hi Alexander

Thanks again for your help

very frustrating but no sorry only this photo

Taken on the edge of the salt-marshes on the last bushes before the salt evaporation ponds
Temperature about 14°

My wife, who takes the photos, only got this one shot before it disappeared


I noted
"Black bill" in my note book

I saw it through my telescope for maybe 10' and was struck by the contrast between the uniform brown crown and the supercillium

I thought Reed B but ...


thanks again
B


ps

we finally got to see a Black Brant / Pacific brent goose (Branta bernicla nigricans) today