Unidentified Bird ID please

[Barbara]

Could somebody kindly identify this bird please which appeared in my garden this morning. My reference book suggests either wood warbler of chiffchaff but the yellow feathers on the breast swing toward towards wood warbler.
Thankyou Barbara

[John]

Originally Posted by Barbara

Could somebody kindly identify this bird please which appeared in my garden this morning. My reference book suggests either wood warbler of chiffchaff but the yellow feathers on the breast swing toward towards wood warbler.
Thankyou Barbara

Hi Barbara

First of all that is an excellent image.

Rather than me tell you what it is I will give you the pointers that tell you what it is. If you then go into your field guide you should be able to work it out.

1. Black legs. Which of the following have black legs. Willow, Wood or Chiffchaff.

2. Strong white eye ring at the lower edge of the eye. Again which of the three have that.

3. Strong facial pattern, below the eye. One of those two you mentioned doesn't have that.

If you are still having trouble come back to the thread and I will give you the answer.

John

[Barbara]

Originally Posted by John

Hi Barbara

First of all that is an excellent image.

Rather than me tell you what it is I will give you the pointers that tell you what it is. If you then go into your field guide you should be able to work it out.

1. Black legs. Which of the following have black legs. Willow, Wood or Chiffchaff.

2. Strong white eye ring at the lower edge of the eye. Again which of the three have that.

3. Strong facial pattern, below the eye. One of those two you mentioned doesn't have that.

If you are still having trouble come back to the thread and I will give you the answer.

John

Hi John
Thanks for that
Now then

1. the legs look dark but not black points to chiffchaff

2. in our field book the white ring is slightly stronger on the wood warbler

3. the wood warbler has the stonger facial pattern


So two out of three I would go for the wood warbler or a new field guide

I like how you didn't give me the answer the straight away, I see that it is the only way to learn
Barbara

[John]

Originally Posted by Barbara

Hi John
Thanks for that
Now then

1. the legs look dark but not black points to chiffchaff

2. in our field book the white ring is slightly stronger on the wood warbler

3. the wood warbler has the stonger facial pattern


So two out of three I would go for the wood warbler or a new field guide

I like how you didn't give me the answer the straight away, I see that it is the only way to learn
Barbara

Hi Barbara

What field guide are you using? I use the Collins field guide and also I have an old one by Lars Jonsson. None of them give descriptions anything like yours (apart from the black legs on a Chiffchaff). One thing stands out head and shoulders of the three. It is found on one out of the three and you have mentioned it already. It is diagnostic of one bird.

BTW when I mentioned strong facial pattern I was referring to the dark area shown on your bird. Wood Warblers do not have this feature and if your field says it does then I would definitely like to know which field guide you are using. You will see from the links to the Wood Warbler below what I mean.

Here are some links to the three Warblers we are looking at.

Chiffchaff
http://www.suesbirdphotos.co.uk/CHIFFCHAFF.htm
http://www.birdguides.com/html/vidli..._collybita.htm
Willow Warbler
http://www.suesbirdphotos.co.uk/WILLOWWARBLER.htm
http://www.digital-nature-photograph...ler-photos.php
Wood Warbler
http://www.suesbirdphotos.co.uk/WOODWARBLER.htm

John

[Barbara]

Originally Posted by John

Hi Barbara

What field guide are you using? I use the Collins field guide and also I have an old one by Lars Jonsson. None of them give descriptions anything like yours (apart from the black legs on a Chiffchaff). One thing stands out head and shoulders of the three. It is found on one out of the three and you have mentioned it already. It is diagnostic of one bird.

BTW when I mentioned strong facial pattern I was referring to the dark area shown on your bird. Wood Warblers do not have this feature and if your field says it does then I would definitely like to know which field guide you are using. You will see from the links to the Wood Warbler below what I mean.

Here are some links to the three Warblers we are looking at.

Chiffchaff
http://www.suesbirdphotos.co.uk/CHIFFCHAFF.htm
http://www.birdguides.com/html/vidli..._collybita.htm
Willow Warbler
http://www.suesbirdphotos.co.uk/WILLOWWARBLER.htm
http://www.digital-nature-photograph...ler-photos.php
Wood Warbler
http://www.suesbirdphotos.co.uk/WOODWARBLER.htm

John

Hi John
Sorry for not getting back sooner, we have been out for the day
Thankyou for the links and after looking at them I would settle for the chiffchaff. In my field book which is Collins New Generation Guide we have had it about 15-20 years the guide didn't say the dark area on the wood warbler it was just my eyes looking at the picture. In the picture the breast doesn't look as yellow as mine on the chiffchaff in my book it looks more beige. The juvenile willow warbler looks more yellow on the breast. The legs on my pic don't look totally black I don't think. Can I change my mind and say it is a willow warbler........... Actually I am getting totally confused and if your not totally confused with my reply John.........
Think I've had too much sun Barbara

PS I'll stick with willow warbler, but I bet I'm wrong.............. again they all look very similar

[John]

Originally Posted by Barbara

Hi John
Sorry for not getting back sooner, we have been out for the day
Thankyou for the links and after looking at them I would settle for the chiffchaff.

You should have stopped there as you talked your way out of this one Barbara. As I said in my earlier reply, dark legs are diagnostic of only one of the three warblers that it could be. In the images you have attached they certainly look dark. If you think they are pinkish then I don't know what images you are looking at because I can't turn those legs into anything other than dark.

Originally Posted by Barbara

In my field book which is Collins New Generation Guide we have had it about 15-20 years the guide didn't say the dark area on the wood warbler it was just my eyes looking at the picture. In the picture the breast doesn't look as yellow as mine on the chiffchaff in my book it looks more beige. The juvenile willow warbler looks more yellow on the breast. The legs on my pic don't look totally black I don't think. Can I change my mind and say it is a willow warbler........... Actually I am getting totally confused and if your not totally confused with my reply John.........
Think I've had too much sun Barbara

PS I'll stick with willow warbler, but I bet I'm wrong.............. again they all look very similar

I'll be honest if I you were taking up birding that bit more seriously I would invest in the latest Collins Field Guide, and here is a link to one on Amazon right now.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0...books&v=glance

John

[Barbara]

[quote=John]You should have stopped there as you talked your way out of this one Barbara. As I said in my earlier reply, dark legs are diagnostic of only one of the three warblers that it could be. In the images you have attached they certainly look dark. If you think they are pinkish then I don't know what images you are looking at because I can't turn those legs into anything other than dark.


Yes I should have kept my mouth shut shouldn't I instead of rambling on with a load of nonsense. Well thanks very much John for identifying it for me I am ever so pleased to have a new visitor to my garden. It actually came back twice about ten minutes later, hopefully it will stick around for a little longer. As for the dark legs, that's me again seeing things that aren't there ,yes I agree with you I can see dark legs, now I have come out of the sun and cooling down.........I going on again aren't I



I'll be honest if I you were taking up birding that bit more seriously I would invest in the latest Collins Field Guide, and here is a link to one on Amazon right now.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0...books&v=glance

[Barbara]

I'll be honest if I you were taking up birding that bit more seriously I would invest in the latest Collins Field Guide, and here is a link to one on Amazon right now.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0...books&v=glance

John[/quote]

yes we will certainly invest in a new guide thanks for the link, and thanks for giving me a hard time......only kidding
Barbara

[matt_xyz]

Barbara, if it's any consolation I struggle terribly with these 3 Warblers (in fact most Warblers!) as the differences seem to be very subtle. I think we could all learn a lot from John I'll try to remember that Chiffchaffs have dark legs......

Matt

[Barbara]

Originally Posted by matt_xyz

Barbara, if it's any consolation I struggle terribly with these 3 Warblers (in fact most Warblers!) as the differences seem to be very subtle. I think we could all learn a lot from John I'll try to remember that Chiffchaffs have dark legs......

Matt

After this lesson matt how could I ever forget that chiffchaffs have dark legs

Yes I agree with you we could all learn a lot from John, he's a good teacher
Barbara