Is this a Bunting in my Garden

[dbozkurt]

This wee bird came into the garden today, got my camera out and tried to get a few pcitures. It was moving fast and darting around. I tried to ID it and the nearest I came up with is a Reed Bunting but I didn't think they came anywhere near Gardens.

Can anyone help me, please





Regards

Debbie

[Gaza]

Looks like a Reed Bunting to me.
I have never seen one in my garden, but i have a friend who has lots of them visit

[Ukwildlifeo]

Yep - looks like a reed bunting too me

[Dogghound]

Yes this is a female reed bunting. Probrably having to look further a field for food.

[buckaroo]

I have an identical bird that has been coming in and out of my garden sun or snow every day for over a year now and have been trying to ID it (see my previous posts).
There are many similar looking birds and decided it most looked like a Meadow Pippit but admittedly unlikely location (housing estate near Newbury, Berks). Anyway thanks for the photo, I haven't managed that so far and thanks to all for the ID.

[Jonners]

In the current cold weather there are many birds that don't normally frequent gardens, which are turning up unexpectedly. See this report on the BBC News website

[buckaroo]

NOw I'm REALLY confused!! Post lower down under "Help PLease" from Lastcornishman shows a similar picture which has been IDd as a Meadow Pippit. I give up (and need a decent picture of mine)!!

[buckaroo]

Another Meadow Pippit mentioned under "Help needed for ID Please" from Martyp. Is this just coincidence or is there a "glut" similar to this year's Painted Lady in the Butterfly World??

[Dogghound]

Meadow pipits are an unusual garden bird but alot are turning up in gardens as a result of the hard winter. This has resulted in alot of requests for ID as alot of people used to their regular garden birds are unfamiliar with them.

[kevbirder]

Originally Posted by buckaroo

NOw I'm REALLY confused!! Post lower down under "Help PLease" from Lastcornishman shows a similar picture which has been IDd as a Meadow Pippit. I give up (and need a decent picture of mine)!!

I checked and the bird photographed by last Cornishman WAS a Meadow Pipit and the bird in this thread IS a Reed Bunting. Take a look at the bill to see one immediate big difference. The pipit bill is thin and the bunting bill is fat. This one feature alone puts them into completely different families of birds. They are however both regarded as LBJs (little brown jobs) and are difficult to specifically identify.