Can someone help identify a bird?

[ukjay73]

I have been seeing the same bird just about everyday and have no idea what it is!

Its about the size of a small pidgeon, the body is a very bright yellow in colour and it has a vivid red head. There doesnt seem to be any other marking over the body, just single block of colour.

It has been feeding in the fields close to the edge of some woodland and is very timid. As soon as I get within sight it flys off and is very fast.

Any ideas?

Thanks
J

[Reptilian]

Green Woodpecker?

[Tursiops2]

Hi, welcome to the forum
Your bird sounds like Green Woodpecker. Although they're predominantly green, they can look very yellowish at a distance, and the red head, habitat and behaviour are all typical of GW.

Tursiops2

[ukjay73]

Nope, The colours on the woodpecker are too dull compared to this.
Im talking BRIGHT yellow and BRIGHT red. Almost like from a kids paint box!
Been searching all over and im 90% sure its not a woodpecker.

[ukjay73]

Oh and im pretty close when i see it, probably about 20ft. My door opens on too the field and i get a good view for a brief time.

Wish the thinkg wasnt so damn fast and I could get a pic!

[Tursiops2]

If it's not GW (and I still think that's the likeliest, they can appear very exotic) then it has to be an escaped cage bird of some sort, no other native species has that colour pattern.
T2

[Reptilian]

The only birds i can think of are the Green Woodpecker and perhaps a Goldfinch. I tried the RSPB identifier and it gave me the same results.

Could you try and explain how the bird flys?

[ukjay73]

To be honest thats what I was thinking, The colours just seemed too vivid for a british bird. Im gonna keep the camera by the door and see if I can catch it!

[SheffieldPete]

Green woodpeckers can look very yellow, and brightly coloured. They also feed on the ground, so don't be mistaken by thinking woodpeckers all spend their time in trees.

To be honest, there's no other British bird that fits that description, unless it's some kind of escapee (and I wouldn't begin to guess what of!).

[SheffieldPete]

But a goldfinch is smaller than a sparrow, and nowhere near pigeon-sized!