strange red bird 2

[wolgang]

seen on top of a tall tree is of about magpie size any ideas

[darrenm]

its a Robin (Erithacus rubecula) but have never seen one the size of a Magpie

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by darrenm

its a Robin (Erithacus rubecula) but have never seen one the size of a Magpie

It does go to show you have to take sizes given with a pinch of salt, though I appreciate it's not always easy to accurately assess the size of a bird (or other animal) on it's own.

A mega Robin indeed!

[wolgang]

I dont think its a robin note the banding on the tail. I have robins in my garden and this is so much bigger. The head is red and goes all the way round down the back. Note the beak and the magpie size is not an exaggeration.The picture was taken from my garden of a tree 40 yards away and 60ft high a robin at that distance would be very difficult to notice this bird was obvious to the naked eye.If i blow it up any more it becomes very blurred.

[aeshna5]

Not April 1st is it?

[Jonners]

Originally Posted by wolgang

I dont think its a robin note the banding on the tail. I have robins in my garden and this is so much bigger. The head is red and goes all the way round down the back. Note the beak and the magpie size is not an exaggeration.The picture was taken from my garden of a tree 40 yards away and 60ft high a robin at that distance would be very difficult to notice this bird was obvious to the naked eye.If i blow it up any more it becomes very blurred.

The "banding" on the tail is the shadow from one of the twigs. Note the size of the buds compared to the size of the bird - if that's magpie size they're big buds . Robin.

[Harold Smith]

Welcome to WAB Wolfgang!

There is no doubt it is a Robin. Sometimes birds can look bigger than they are when they are silhouetted against a big sky. I am pretty certain the banding on the tail you refer to is shadow from the twig the bird is perched on.

Harold.

[darrenm]

compare it to the size of the buds on the branches

[darrenm]

from the bud arrangement it looks like the Common Lime but they are blurred in the shot and difficult to make out. The bar on the tail is a shaddow most likely cast by one of the branches

[sunnydale]

Couldn't help but have a good giggle at this thread