Bird ID required, forgive the poor image.

[Steve_In_Cheshire]

Please forgive the poor image as this was done in a rush with a small dig camera and a pair of binnoculars as the ground feeder we have is quite far from the house, the bird on the left seems to have house sparrow coloured wings with a black head and a bit of white around its neck.

The bird on the right seems to be a really fat type of finch and at a guess i would say greenfinch, ive never seen a finch so big and fat if its one of those.

[Astra]

Bird on the left looks like a male Reed Bunting.

[Dae]

agreed, male reed bunting for left - and I too think the right bird is a greenfinch.

[Steve_In_Cheshire]

Thats brilliant thanks, i think this is the first male reed bunting we have ever had in our garden, its certainly the first one ive ever seen. How common are they as a garden visitor ? He was eating a mixture of seed including sunflower hearts and a seed mix.

Originally Posted by Dae

agreed, male reed bunting for left - and I too think the right bird is a greenfinch.

He or she is massive, ive never seen that bird before, is it common to get big round greenfinches ? This one looks like eats eaten half a dozen pies.

[Pete Collins]

I agree with Astra (and Dae) about Reed Bunting. Not sure about the one on the right, but possibly Greenfinch (looks like a Robin without the red breast!).

[Steve_In_Cheshire]

Just a quick question, how common are reed buntings to gardens ? Our little fella has been back again today, touch wood he hangs around as they are nice birds.

[squishy]

i think it might have an infection, i saw one all fluffed up and unhealthy like that in my garden a few months ago

[sandymere]

Possible tree sparrow?

[sleipnerofasgard]

They are quite common on feeder tables at the local nature reserves and there are quite a few in the hedgerows around rural areas, so it would depend how close to any of these you are situated, nevertheless, a fantastic addition to any feeder table, you lucky people as Arthur Askey used to say.Oh dear,showing my age there

Frank

[Dae]

Originally Posted by squishy

i think it might have an infection, i saw one all fluffed up and unhealthy like that in my garden a few months ago

I suppose it's possible the one on the right has an infection, particularly if it's a greenfinch - they seem to be more prone than other birds. I don't typically see greenfinches this fat, except for the one we had a year or so back. This one died shortly after due to an infection of some kind. But it's the only bird I can think of that has that bright stripe along the edge of the wing like the one in your photo.