Know this one won't be easy...

[Dae]

Hello!

My first identification question, so go easy on me. I know this bird is very difficult to identify without hearing the song. As this was shot through a window, I honestly don't know which it might be. I settled on willow tit, but I understand it's only a guess.

Anyways, thought I'd try and settle it for certain as it's driving me crazy not knowing!

[glsammy]

I'm going to say Marsh Tit. The paler flanks look right, Willows tend to be a richer orange buff colour. The neck also looks slim, a Willow appears big headed, with a bull neck.

Here's a couple of mine as examples:

Willow Tit:




Marsh Tit:




Having said all this, I could still be hopelessly wrong!!

[MagpieMick]

I'd go Marsh .....

Smallish Bib
Don't see bull-neck
Dull cap
Uniform flank colour
other than that secondaries and back are hard to see for clear yes/no on variations.

So on image only for me MARSH.

Mick..

[Brocker]

Ooooh. Now I am going to throw a spanner in the works. According to my book, it is the marsh tit that has a glossy crown and the willow tit that has the sooty crown. The one in the pic looks sooty. In one of the pics there seem to be a lighter patch on the wing. This is a characteristic of the willow tit. . . . . Sorry guys, I am going to have to go with the Willow Tit. . . . . On saying that, I am only looking at some pics in a book and therefore could be entirely wrong.

[dunlin]

Hi all
very hard to id without song, dark cap extends well down the nape and looks dull not glossy to me
so i would suggest willow tit

[Dae]

I knew this one wouldn't be easy. It's very frustrating to me as I wish I'd heard it's song! They haven't been back to the feeder in a few days, but I'm hopeful they'll return so I can know for sure (all assuming I'm not getting both! )

[paulchandler6]

I'm leaning towards Willow Tit on this one. The cap appears dull and extends onto the nape more. Also a hint of a pale wing panel showing.

Paul

[glsammy]

Originally Posted by paulchandler6

I'm leaning towards Willow Tit on this one. The cap appears dull and extends onto the nape more. Also a hint of a pale wing panel showing.

Paul

I can't even see the pale wing panel..
I can't see the Willow bull neck either in this shot, it looks too slim for a Willow. Also where's the Orange buff flanks? They look pretty pale to me. As for the cap colour, after taking literally hundreds of shots of both of these species, I've learnt you can't rely on the glossiness of it in one shot. It all depends on the level of light.
I'd rather go by the neck, shape of the head, flank colour and size of bib.

I'm sticking with Marsh. Probably wrong though!

[Dae]

Ok I dug up another shot, offering a better view of the side than the first 2 I posted. Perhaps this'll help more?? Ok, I know I'm being optimistic, as I know this'll likely be one of those " I'm just never going to know for sure" birds.

[GuyF]

This new shot certainly makes it look like a Willow Tit. There seems to be a noticeable pale panel on the wing.
Guy