Female Reed Bunting?

[ExiledWool]

Evening all - I think this is my first post!!

Anyway, I was at Martin Mere last Friday and photographed this - well, that's what I'm hoping you will tell me. At first I thought it was a corn bunting. I've had a discussion with others who say it's a tree sparrow (surely not) and a friend who has said reed bunting.

Grateful if you could cast your eyes over and confirm what it is please.

[oxycera]

definitely Reed Bunting. Is it not a winter male? Someone will know

[John]

This is a winter plumaged male. Here are a couple of my images to show the difference. The male has that dark throat and the female doesn't.

First the female.


Now the male


John

[Ferret]

Hi and welcome to Wild about Britain.

Your friend is correct it is a Reed Bunting. a Male mostly in its winter plumage except that the head is darker than I would expect so I think he is starting to get his summer finery. He is also starting to get his black bib
The prominent pale stripe running diagonally down from the beak is a good indicator that you are looking at a Bunting species.

Corn Bunting is a larger bird with no real distinctive features on its plumage although it often shows a small dark patch on its chest.

Tree Sparrow has a smart red-brown cap and prominent white cheeks with a black spot in the centre.

Hope that helps Ferret

[Green Man]

reed bunting male good indicator for this species is white outer tail feathers well seen in flight (as per most buntings and finches but not sparrows). Also corn buntings dangle their legs in flight which reed buntings don't. Hope thr reply is of use.

[ExiledWool]

Thanks everyone for your help.