Really Excited-Please Help

[buckaroo]

Am desparate to ID a bird I saw today, please HELP!!. We NEVER get birds in our garden as on a newish estate (apart from below) as not many trees...This week put more bread, cake and fat on bird table than usual. For over a year now been trying to ID a little speckled bird that's been coming to my garden. Anyway, finally decided could be a Meadow Pippit and while keeping still trying to take a photo first saw a female Blackbird (normally a big deal - really!!) then a Wren on the Sky dish and on to the bird table (more than exciting and rare round here!!) then my little friend the Pippit(??).

Anyway popped out to clear more snow off the bird table and noticed a small, dark bird hovering/ flapping in the corner of my neighbour's window. Didn't think much of it as probably disturbed it and it flew towards window?? Anyway when I got in it flew towards my window and again hovered in the coner of patio door. I got quite a close up view for a couple of seconds and what struck me was the vivid, ALL OVER dark, chocolate brown colour graduating into a deep brown/nearly black head. Also it seemed to have a big head and would actually describe it as quite rounded unless its' feathers were fluffed up due to the cold but it seemd quite fat!! Also due to the flapping near the window it seemed young (is that possible this time of year??) and lost! If you saw, for example an Oriental bird, in your garden you would know it was something special and ut of place. That is how I felt i.e. just knew it was so unusual. If anyone can fill me in I would love to know and it could stop me wondering forever!! Thank you.

[thebeard]

unfortunately i have no clue as to what your mystery bird might be, the black head might suggest reed bunting, though the rest of the description doesn't really fit... hmm

as for your meadow pipit, although it is possible, i think it might be more likely to be a song thrush, being in the garden, as pipits tend to frequent more open areas, though i suppose its not impossible for one to enter gardens, especially in this weather!

good luck and welcome to WAB

[nigel_b]

Have you tried the "Bird Identifier" in the column on the left?

Trouble is we didnt see it, you did.

If I want an identification or confirmation what I usually do is type some possibilities into google images and see what comes up. "Great Tits" can provide some predictable results though.

[Astra]

Welcome to WAB buckeroo.

Your little speckled bird sounds more likely to be a Dunnock rather than a Meadow Pippit but I have no idea what the chocolate brown/black bird might be - apart from a Blackbird!

[Jonners]

Hello Buckeroo, and welcome to WAB. Is it possible that your little hovering bird was a wren? (what sort of size was it?). Some small birds will hover around the edges of windows looking for insects hiding in the cracks. Well done for managing to encourage some birds to your garden, hope you enjoy them, and keep attracting them

[dunlin]

Originally Posted by buckaroo

Am desparate to ID a bird I saw today, please HELP!!. We NEVER get birds in our garden as on a newish estate (apart from below) as not many trees...This week put more bread, cake and fat on bird table than usual. For over a year now been trying to ID a little speckled bird that's been coming to my garden. Anyway, finally decided could be a Meadow Pippit and while keeping still trying to take a photo first saw a female Blackbird (normally a big deal - really!!) then a Wren on the Sky dish and on to the bird table (more than exciting and rare round here!!) then my little friend the Pippit(??).

Anyway popped out to clear more snow off the bird table and noticed a small, dark bird hovering/ flapping in the corner of my neighbour's window. Didn't think much of it as probably disturbed it and it flew towards window?? Anyway when I got in it flew towards my window and again hovered in the coner of patio door. I got quite a close up view for a couple of seconds and what struck me was the vivid, ALL OVER dark, chocolate brown colour graduating into a deep brown/nearly black head. Also it seemed to have a big head and would actually describe it as quite rounded unless its' feathers were fluffed up due to the cold but it seemd quite fat!! Also due to the flapping near the window it seemed young (is that possible this time of year??) and lost! If you saw, for example an Oriental bird, in your garden you would know it was something special and ut of place. That is how I felt i.e. just knew it was so unusual. If anyone can fill me in I would love to know and it could stop me wondering forever!! Thank you.

Get hold of a good bird guide, most people use collins birds of britain and europe. Look through the guide at males and females as they can look totally different. When you think you have something exotic its always best to discount the more common species.
You need to look at size and compare that to a species that you are familiar with ie is it the same size, biggar than or smaller than say a blackbird or a robin. Also remember when trying to estimate size the background has to be taken into account. A male blackbird on white snow will look biggar than if it was stood on dark soil in the shade of a bush.
Good luck, a picture would help if you manage to get one

regards mark.......

[buckaroo]

Thanks for all the replies, it's really helpful and off to do more investigation in a mo. My "Pippit" is definately not a Thrush though (mine is much smaller and speckles are in rows under belly) or Dunnock (closer in size but completely different colouring). Have been a bird-watcher all my life and familiar with most everyday birds but haven't seen this one before last year. Have too many pictures but he just looks like a dot on the horizon, need a decent camera rather than relying on phone!

Also saw the dark one in the distance this morning, really stood out because of the unusual colour and again flew against a wall similar to beaviour yesterday. Am going to explore female birds although would expect them to generally be lighter than males.

(BTW please ignore any typos, keyboard also playing up!)

[Jonners]

Hi Buckaroo. How about Marsh Tit?

[buckaroo]

Thanks for the suggestion, looked at pics but Marsh Tit is far too light on belly but very pretty! Now thinking could be a mature male Black Redstart or Stonechat but nowhere near it's normal Westerly location (In near Newbury, Berks).