Bird id? Possible Ring Ouzel

[melrich]

Help on identification please. Bird in my garden in Leicestershire, been here a couple of weeks, not able to take a photograph. Very similar to female blackbird, slightly smaller. Pale brown throat, beak more pointed than blackbird, mottled white wing feathers and white stripe along tail feathers. The nearest I can get to it is a female Ring Ouzel?
Thankyou

[Lance Morgan]

Bit early for RO. They migrate returning in March and are unlikely to be seen in Leics. Could it be a femal blackbird with white feathers.

[Adam Cheeseman]

I'd agree with Lance.

Cheers,

Adam

[solus]

Sounds like a Blackbird with some leucism (white/pale feathering) to me too. This is quite common in Blackbirds with anything from one feather to a completely white bird having been recorded.

A photo, even a grotty one, would help to confirm.

[melrich]

Thankyou all, will keep an eye on it and try and get photo.

[aeshna5]

Though I agree it's most likely to be an aberrant Blackbird, they have been reports of a few overwintering Ring Ouzels in the south this winter.