Bird Identification

Clara · #1 (**permalink**) 29-05-2007, 04:46 PM

I saw a bird on the fence in my garden, and have no clue what sort it was. It was a similar size and body shape to a woodpecker, but had a pale brown body with vivid blue and black stripes to it's wings. My husband suggested a jay, but i've looked at lots of photos of jays and i'm fairly sure that it wasn't one. The blue and black colours were like definite stripes, very defined. Any ideas?

Thanks

gez · #2 (**permalink**) 29-05-2007, 06:23 PM

i too first thought a jay, what about a roller coracias garrulus..

agrumpycow · #3 (**permalink**) 29-05-2007, 06:30 PM

Maybe it was a Hoopoe. There have been a few of these rare birds in the UK recently, although I'm yet to see one

Whereabouts in the UK are you?

Clara · #4 (**permalink**) 29-05-2007, 06:59 PM

Thanks for your replies. I've had a look at the roller coracius garrulus on google images and it definitely wasn't that. I looked at the hoopoe and it did look very similar, although I didn't notice a plume on it's head and it was definitely a vivid blue (the pics i looked at all showed black and white wings), but it was similar looking! I'm in Hertfordshire!

Apologies if my terminology and discription aren't brilliant - I don't know a lot about birds, but I do love watching them in the garden. I normally have a book that I refer to if I see any I don't recognise, but have just moved house and can't find it!!!

Gill Catton · #5 (**permalink**) 29-05-2007, 07:05 PM

based on your description and a process of elimination it does really sound like a Jay,
certainly the blue can be quite striking far more so than in illustrations and when you look closely at the blue flash, its is indeed stripey. Were you very far away from it? I know you say you don't think its a jay but there's not much else that comes very close to your description that's all

Clara · #6 (**permalink**) 29-05-2007, 07:27 PM

Are there different types of jay that I can look up pictures for (sorry if I'm being a bit thick!)? I keep looking at jays and they're just not brown enough on their bodies!

agrumpycow · #7 (**permalink**) 29-05-2007, 07:55 PM

Have a look at thesefor a variety of shots of jays: Jay - Garrulus glandarius: More Still Images - ARKive and
RSPB Images

Clara · #8 (**permalink**) 29-05-2007, 08:35 PM

Thanks for the links, I think you are probably right and it was a jay! The body was definitely the same pale brown colour as in the images in your links, I'm still convinced it had more blue on it's wings, but that may just be my memory!!

Thanks everyone for replying, I've really enjoyed coming on here today!

Kirric · #9 (**permalink**) 21-10-2007, 12:28 PM

hi
i have a similar problem- only i'm pretty certain it's not a jay cus the TIPS of the wings were bright blue-
The bird was mediumish with a reddy brown body and a pale brown head and with bright blue wingtips!!
i looked it up in my british bird book but couldn.t find anything (and as i already said the blue on a jay is not where the blue on this one was)
can anyone help me?
ta

aeshna5 · #10 (**permalink**) 21-10-2007, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirric

hi
i have a similar problem- only i'm pretty certain it's not a jay cus the TIPS of the wings were bright blue-
The bird was mediumish with a reddy brown body and a pale brown head and with bright blue wingtips!!
i looked it up in my british bird book but couldn.t find anything (and as i already said the blue on a jay is not where the blue on this one was)
can anyone help me?
ta

The size + general colour pattern you mention fits a Jay. There's no other British (or European) bird I can think of that matches the description.