Stumped. Bird ID please.If you can

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Stumped. Bird ID please.If you can
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Bodger

Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 13524

Posted: Sat Mar 08, 14 9:24 am Post subject: Stumped. Bird ID please.If you can

This morning, we've had a bird in the garden that we've never had before feeding on the fat balls. Not only that, I don't recall ever having seen one before anywhere.
Normally, when there's a newcomer, I generally have a clue as to what it might be and go to the books or internet for confirmation but this time, I'm stumped. I haven't got a clue.
Sods law, I managed to jigger the camera up yesterday, so here goes with the best description that I can give.
The bird was sparrow sized but appeared to be more elongated. It didn't have a finches bill, it was quite long and pointed. At first glance we thought it to be a red poll but the cap wasn't right. It was uniform olive green in colour and extended towards the back of its neck.
The birds underneath was light solid grey in colour and its back had sparrow like markings. Its tail was quite short.
I pride myself in knowing the birds that come to our garden but this
one has me beaten. I'll know it if I can see a picture of it again, so can you help me out? Its definitely not one of your common or garden birds, or I'd know what it was.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45469
Location: yes

Posted: Sat Mar 08, 14 9:51 am Post subject:
considering the weather we have had it might be worth checking the usa id books

Colin & Jan

Joined: 03 Mar 2006
Posts: 203
Location: Dover, Kent

Posted: Sat Mar 08, 14 11:14 am Post subject:
Garden warbler? I think there are a few beginning to move across from the Continent. Chiff Chaff Hen blackcap but they do have light brown head plumage

LynneA

Joined: 25 Oct 2006
Posts: 4893
Location: London N21

Posted: Sat Mar 08, 14 11:22 am Post subject:
Sounds like a warbler of some kind. This Winter there have been more vagrants from the Americas mentioned on the birdwatching sites that from mainland Europe. Could easily be a waif or stray from the US or Canada.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45469
Location: yes

Posted: Sat Mar 08, 14 11:40 am Post subject:
a few years ago i saw what seemed to be a purple version of a blackbird . i didnt get the camera in time and could not find it in the bird books or on line a while later i was looking at a 1940's book which had a drawing of one ,purple blackbird from the usa last seen since the 1930's ,turns out mine might well be a fugee i recon your birdy could well be a refugee from somewhere

Bodger

Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 13524

Posted: Sat Mar 08, 14 1:06 pm Post subject:

Colin & Jan wrote:

Garden warbler? I think there are a few beginning to move across from the Continent.

Chiff Chaff

Hen blackcap but they do have light brown head plumage

Definitely not the last two but I'll check out the garden warbler.

Bodger

Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 13524

Posted: Sat Mar 08, 14 1:09 pm Post subject:
Nope. not that one either. https://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/g/gardenwarbler/

alice

Joined: 18 Feb 2006
Posts: 2820

Posted: Sat Mar 08, 14 1:21 pm Post subject:
Siskin?

Bodger

Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 13524

Posted: Sat Mar 08, 14 6:16 pm Post subject:
No we have dozens of those Alice.

Piggyphile

Joined: 02 Apr 2009
Posts: 891
Location: Galicia

Posted: Sat Mar 08, 14 6:56 pm Post subject:
Is it one of these? https://identify.whatbird.com/obj/617/overview/Green-tailed_Towhee.aspx This is a list of sparrow sized american things https://www.whatbird.com/browse/objs/All/birds_na_147/59/Family/11107/Sparrows%20(Emberizidae)/default.aspx

Mr O

Joined: 13 Feb 2005
Posts: 5512
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada

Posted: Sun Mar 09, 14 2:47 am Post subject: Re: Stumped. Bird ID please.If you can

Bodger wrote:

Sounds like a female purple finch, but no one could tell without a picture.

buzzy

Joined: 04 Jan 2011
Posts: 3708
Location: In a small wood on the edge of the Huntingdonshire Wolds

Posted: Sun Mar 09, 14 1:34 pm Post subject:
I suppose you have ruled out Dunnock? Apart from the olive green head, the rest fits. Henry

Bodger

Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 13524

Posted: Sun Mar 09, 14 2:34 pm Post subject:
Definitely not Buzzy, we get quite a few of those but he's been back again today. The camera is still US and the picture that my wife has attempted to take on her mobile phone isn't very good. I'm pretty sure that its a warbler of some description but its the coloured cap that I can't find a match for.

pollyanna

Joined: 03 Nov 2012
Posts: 221

Posted: Sun Mar 09, 14 4:31 pm Post subject:
Linnet?

pollyanna

Joined: 03 Nov 2012
Posts: 221

Posted: Sun Mar 09, 14 4:53 pm Post subject:
Female blackcap has a red head.

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