unidentified little bird

derbi · #1 (**permalink**) 21-09-2009, 07:55 PM

hi all, my partner found this little bird in his parents cokateil avery. The pics not very good as was taken on a camera phone. It was small roughly a tit or finch in size. There are quite afew shrubs and a willow tree in the garden to. Can anybody help id it, i thought it was possibly a willow tit.

thankyou

Goatboy · #2 (**permalink**) 21-09-2009, 08:03 PM

Hard to say for definite because the pic is a bit blurry, but if I had to say anything, I'd agree with Willow Tit.

Picidae · #3 (**permalink**) 21-09-2009, 08:14 PM

It's certainly a Tit species of some sort (Marsh might be more likely than Willow) honestly can't rule out other Tit species on this image!

Agrotis · #4 (**permalink**) 21-09-2009, 08:32 PM

Not the best photo, and its the first time ive seen a Willow Tit in a steam bath!!

But thats what it looks like to me, since there seems to be a pale panel on the wing, which Marsh lacks, and there is no white nape patch, ruling out Coal Tit.

So Willow for me.

Picidae · #5 (**permalink**) 21-09-2009, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Agrotis

Not the best photo, and its the first time ive seen a Willow Tit in a steam bath!!

But thats what it looks like to me, since there seems to be a pale panel on the wing, which Marsh lacks, and there is no white nape patch, ruling out Coal Tit.

So Willow for me.

the ''pale panel'' on Willow is certainly not a reliable criteria since many lack it and some Marsh can show it - these two species are very difficult to separate other than on call even on very good photos and certainly I wouldn't attempt it on a photo of this quality even if a pale wing panel could be seen which seems doubtful. Marsh Tit have a wider distribution than Willow but both getting rather scarce. Coal Tit would be a very obvious alternative and more likely to turn up on the floor of a garden aviary than the other two species, the pale nape patch not necessarily being obvious from this angle
http://www.indeks.pt/cantodepassaros...a82d9c7f20.jpg

Don't think we can go further than a 'tit' species on this one

Agrotis · #6 (**permalink**) 21-09-2009, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Picidae

Don't think we can go further than a 'tit' species on this one

In no way would i say for definate that it is definatey a Willow. Just the feel i get from a poor photo. It looks quite large headed aswell, although Coal Tit also looks large headed, which also backs up your guess

I see more Willow Tits than Marsh where i am, and Coal tits almost daily.

Ive got a load of pics on my hard drive like this, might put them up, since its fun trying to id them

derbi · #7 (**permalink**) 22-09-2009, 09:20 AM

it was definatly not any tit we've seen before. thanks for the help hopefully i be able to get a decant picture if its still around.

valleyforge · #8 (**permalink**) 21-09-2009, 08:36 PM

I'd agree that it's a tit of some sort.

I had a problem with coal tits finding their way into one of our aviaries, until I discovered that just one single horizontal strut on a section of mesh was missing ... a manufacturing fault that I'd not noticed when putting up the aviary ... leaving a single 1 inch by 1 inch square through which they could gain entry ... I suspect while systematically searching the mesh for spiders & insects in spider webs.

However, they weren't as good at finding their way out again ... amazing just what tight a space they can fit through when they've a mind to.