Yellow patch on back, UK (1 Viewer)

[Jamie D]

Hi,

any thoughts on this picture taken yesterday near Guisborough? Superficially resembles Yellow-rumped Warbler but a few things dont look correct. The size was thought to be chaffinch size or maybe a bit smaller

https://twitter.com/NeilSimms1/status/577749381094481920

 

[Simon Wates]

I'm seeing a male Chaffinch with a ray of sunlight catching the lower back.

 

[Johann Sebastian Bach]

The head looks good for a YRW but the yellow's in the wrong place (too high up the back). It seems unlikely that the yellow is staining or a photographic artefact.
An intriguing record!

Peter

 

[MSA]

To my eye the yellow on the back's the only colour you can see - but surely it has a white rump? Brambling?

 

[Tiraya]

There are several things wrong with the suggestion of (myrtle) yellow-rumped warbler.

I don't see sunlight either but I have no alternative suggestions. Could always be something with xanthism I suppose.

 

[Simon Wates]

Male Chaffinch was my first quick reaction. Typically on photos like this, on closer viewing it morphs into the unknown.

 

[sidwemn]

Additional shots now on Teesmouth Bird Club website. A bit of a poser?

http://www.teesmouthbc.com/forumtbc/index.php?topic=7462.0

Martyn

 

[Simon Wates]

I've taken the liberty of adding brightness and contrast to one of the images and it seems that the suggestion of a catkin may have some weight?

 

[Mal92]

Escaped Canary perhaps?

 

[Jamie D]

Thanks for the replys. I checked with the photographer and the yellow is on the bird and was not a catkin

 

[Simon Wates]

Thanks for the replys. I checked with the photographer and the yellow is on the bird and was not a catkin

Thanks Jamie - sorry for that but it was something I thought needed to be elminated from the equation as on some of the photos it really looked like a catkin or large bud.

Now the bill shape can be seen better - it seems a little too fine for a Chaffinch, maybe Siskin - though it doesn't look like one!

 

[shhh]

Additional shots now on Teesmouth Bird Club website. A bit of a poser?

http://www.teesmouthbc.com/forumtbc/index.php?topic=7462.0

Martyn

looking at all the pics i can only see the bill shape as goldfinch or siskin

i'd tend towards odd female siskin