Small Bird ID Help Please

SuzieandFlo · #1 (**permalink**) 03-05-2010, 10:41 AM

I was out walking yesterday and saw a small bird 3 times. Can anyone help with ID ?
The first sighting was on the edge of a small wooded area in the middle of arable fields. There are lots of mature trees within the wooded area, some dense undergrowth and the area is enclosed within hedging (hawthorn, blackthorn and beech). I noticed a small bird flitting around very quickly in the hawthorn hedging and stopped to try and see what it was.
It looked like a Chiffchaff or Willow Warbler in size and colouring. I only caught a glimpse of it as it paused briefly on a thin branch about 4 feet from the ground. I didn't notice the leg colour and didn't hear it call/sing.
Second sighting , a bird similar to the above flew out from the edge of a crop and landed briefly on the fence, (post and wire , it landed on the wire about 2 feet from the ground), before flying off . The crop is barley or wheat and is about a foot high.
Third sighting was in low trees and bushes near a small stream. Again , it was flitting very quickly among the branches and looked like it was feeding on insects in the trees/bushes. It was feeding in one bush then flitting quickly to the next , no higher than about 15 feet from the ground.
Again , it paused briefly on a thin branch and I noticed it had a yellow stripe above its eye. This stood out clearly against the bird's greenish brown colouring and lighter , yellowish underparts. Again , I didn't notice the leg colour as it was moving too quickly and it didn't call or sing while I was there.
I plan to go back to where I saw the third one and try to get a better look.
Unfortunately , I dont have a digital camera just now and am using an old 35mm SLR , so can't post any pictures until I get the film developed.
Any help would be very much appreciated.
I'm off out for the rest of today but will be back on WAB tonight.

Connor7 · #2 (**permalink**) 03-05-2010, 10:48 AM

Both ChiffChaffs and Willow Warblers have distinctive yellow stripes above their eyes like the one you mention. Now I'm looking forward for the images to get developed

AshLee · #3 (**permalink**) 03-05-2010, 10:49 AM

Hi S&F,

Everything about your description suggests Goldcrest, except the eye stripes. The Goldcrest has a yellow stripe along its crown, which can look like an eye stripe when viewed at a certain angle.

Ash

SuzieandFlo · #4 (**permalink**) 03-05-2010, 11:05 AM

Thanks Connor

Thats what's so confusing , they look very similar but it didn't sing or call and it didn't stop for long enough for me to see it's leg colour.
Would they both be found in my described habitat ? I've seen and heard Chiffchaffs in a slightly different habitat about 2 miles from where I was yesterday. There are higher trees where I saw the Chiffchaff and it was higher up in those trees than the bird I saw yesterday

Thanks AshLee

. It definitely wasn't a Goldcrest. It wasn't that small and definitely didn't have a stripe on top of it's head. It is either a Chiffchaff or Willow Warbler. I just need to see it's legs or hear it sing (or someone more knowledgeable than me to ID from habitat

)to confirm which it is. Thanks anyway

AshLee · #5 (**permalink**) 03-05-2010, 11:27 AM

Hi S&F,

Of the two I'd plump for WW. They are just that little bit greener (but there is a large overlap, as you will know

) tend to have a more cryptic song (less "obvious" and easy to identify than the Chiffchaff's), and tend to be associated with bushes, and lower down nearer the ground, I think.

But yes, we'll wait for the photos!

Ash

RoyW · #6 (**permalink**) 03-05-2010, 11:45 AM

It's not possible to say any more than it was probably either a Willow Warbler or a Chiffchaff from the information given I'm afraid. As Ash says;

Quote:

Originally Posted by AshLee

But yes, we'll wait for the photos!

With any luck these will help (but even then it may not be possible to say for certain!).

As far as habitat goes, both can be found in woodland edge and scrub, with Chiffchaffs tending to favour areas with stands of more mature trees. Both will feed low down (and both nest in vegetation on, or near, the ground).
At this time of year there are still some migrants moving through, heading to more northerly breeding grounds, as well - so either species could basically be seen anywhere!

Roy.