Bird ID needed :-/

[tattmaylor]

Last Saturday in Exminster near Exeter, Devon. Only really got into this bird spotting since moving here last summer and saw a similar bird in the spring that i could only match to a female Reed Bunting but didn't get a picture.

So when I saw another (SBJ) i couldn't identify this time I had a new camera on hand to give a pretty clear pick. So any help on this would be much appreciated. The nearest thing going on size and beak etc, is some sort pf pipit but this bird looked darker?

[Ollie]

It's a Dunnock, Prunella modularis. Welcome to WAB

Roger

[glsammy]

A warm welcome for me to!
As Roger has said, it's a Dunnock, what makes it slightly confusing is that it's a very young one. When it's adult it will lose the markings on the top of its head.

[tattmaylor]

Thanks both. We have regular Dunnocks and it was very much ground based so makes sense. I presume that is why the beak was quite pinky red?

I find it hard when you have things llike young birds or season plumage changes, etc... especially with the brown ones!

Must try and get a grab of my video footage of the other bird as that wasn't spring it was Jan so pre-baby season - that maybe a bit more interesting.

thanks again.. I will be back ;-)

[glsammy]

Originally Posted by tattmaylor

Thanks both. We have regular Dunnocks and it was very much ground based so makes sense. I presume that is why the beak was quite pinky red?

I find it hard when you have things llike young birds or season plumage changes, etc... especially with the brown ones!

Must try and get a grab of my video footage of the other bird as that wasn't spring it was Jan so pre-baby season - that maybe a bit more interesting.

thanks again.. I will be back ;-)

All young birds have this type of gape, which will disappear soon after it's independently feeding.