Help identifiying a bird please.

[JoFish]

I've just had a frantic call from my mum asking if I know what bird had just landed in her garden. I live about 50 miles from her so can't pop round to look myself, and she has no way of getting a picture unless it comes back tomorrow when my little sis can get a picture for her.

So this is the description she gave me:

Size of a sparrow, but not as fat. Tail length somewhere between a sparrow and a wagtail which was completely white . Yellow ‘blob’ on back of head, yellow underbelly coming under the wings and neck, striped (but not striking stripes) back and wings being dark greenish (female green finch colour ) colour. Ground eating mainly and foraging. Not frightened, got as close as two arms length away. She didn't get a clear look at the face for some reason, but she said she can say she would have noticed if it had a colourful head, so it was likely the same colour as the back and wings. No call heard.

I've gone through the possibilities with her ... yellow wag, yellow hammer etc, but nothing is matching up? It stuck around for about 20 minutes, then flew up onto the fence and away. She can't see it anymore because it's now too dark.

I've asked her to try and do a little drawing, but I'm not holding my breath for that, lol.

Like I say, hopefully it will be back tomorrow and she can get some kind of photo.

[Picidae]

escaped Budgie?

[JoFish]

Lol, no, definitely not a budgie.

[Picidae]

Perhaps your mum's description's a bit off then because it certainly doesn't fit any wild native uk species as the description stands at the moment! Perhaps she'll be able to nab a photo if it's around again. If not a budgie, then an escaped finch of some description.

Re-reading your description, I see you meant the back was striped, not the neck (hence the Budgie!). Still doesn't fit a normal plumaged wild species but perhaps a leucistic Yellowhammer ...

[Wild-Woman]

Perhaps an escapee of some sort. The white tail is confusing.

[Lance Morgan]

Escaped canary mule maybe

[JoFish]

I think the 'Mule' idea is the most likely, but it was foraging in undergrowth? I have also thought of a Leucistic Yellow Hammer ... I just hope she can get a picture tomorrow!