Farm-land - birds with bullfinch like white spot but too big to be bullfinch

[Amoeba]

I spotted a flock of birds foraging on some farm land, the land had a lot of bare soil with a few low-lying plants growing on it.

They had the black tail with the characteristic white spot of a bullfinch. Big problem!

1) It's about the size of a blackbird, perhaps slightly bigger
2) It had no black on its head and none of them had any red on them
3) It was quite tall and slim, with longish legs - but not incredibly so.

It was brown all over with brownish specks. Darker brown on top half and creamy brown on face and underside, with light freckles on its face. They moved together, if one flew they all did. I didn't get a close enough look for full details, but I caught enough of a glimpse to know it was definitely not a bullfinch.

[Ukwildlifeo]

They sound kind of like redwing in behaviour, but I imagine you would have seen the red streak and the yellow is a band above the eye so perhaps not.

[Amoeba]

Maybe, the lighting was kind of low though so everything had an orange tinge, maybe the red might not have been obvious since it's just a patch they have isn't it? Do redwings have long black tails with a white spot near the top?

[Fieldfare95]

skylark?

[Amoeba]

I think skylarks lack the black and white spot (which was the most distinguishable feature)... thanks for trying though.

[Fieldfare95]

Not sure about the size but maybe a meadow pipit?
Was the tail exactly like a bullfinch's?

[Amoeba]

Yes. Exactly, particularly noticeable when they flew. But then they turned their brown speckled heads and I did a double-take!

I've never seen a meadow pipt's tail so.. maybe? That or a redwing are the closest suggestions, not including the tail.

[Fieldfare95]

Wheatear!

[Amoeba]

Haha, good suggestion! I do feel that it doesn't make an exact match because its head was closer to song thrush than wheateater, but I don't know for sure. Considering the poor lighting, I might have simply been seeing feather texture (the 'freckles' were very light and undistinguished).

But yeah, closest so far considering the tail. Not as rounded a spot as I had hoped maybe but never know...

Wait... summer bird is it not? I probably need not say it's still winter.

[Fieldfare95]

Oh my mistake, just realised they migrate in winter!
I think feb is a bit early.
Tail fits though