Unknown Garden Bird - Bunting?

[mknowles]

Hi,

I am new to this post and unfortunately am not particularly good at identifying birds. Recently I have spotted this bird in my garden in Surrey and think that I have identified it (from my Collins Gem book!) as a Bunting. Can anybody with more experience please help? I have seen up to six at one time.

Many thanks, Martin

[solus]

It's a Redwing - a winter visitor of the Thrush family.

Welcome to WAB, by the way.

It's not a Bunting and the name you have provisionally assigned to your photo is actually of a particularly rare species only found (and then it's uncommon to say the lesat!) in the West Country! Redwings and their larger cousins Fieldfares are generally seen in flocks or small groups, often on farmland and also in gardens where they are particularly fond of fallen (and those still left on the tree!) apples.

Nice pic and a good bird for the garden!

[tameblackbirds]

how big was this bird? I'm not the best at id but it looks like a red wing Ill wait and see probably wrong

[KeenTeen17]

redwing all right your very lucky to have seen one of these

[tameblackbirds]

Originally Posted by solus

It's a Redwing - a winter visitor of the Thrush family.

Oh I was right

[KeenTeen17]

indeed you were

[mknowles]

Thanks for the quick responses.

Just shows my lack of knowledge (I thought the markings around the eyes were similat to the Bunting) but it is good to know what it is as it has been bugging me for a few days!

Best wishes,

Martin

[RAINBOWRUSSELL]

Redwing gets my vote!I has a pair in the garden a couple of months ago & had to grab my book cos I thought they were thrushes which I also have here but they looked slightly different!

[Ruth Daniel]

Definitely a Redwing,a nice garden bird Martin and welcome to WAB!

[squishy]

they're really lovely birds
tell them apart from other things by the pale eye stripe and dash of red on the underwing