What bird is this?

[jshea1571]

I was walking the dog in a local unrban park that backs onto countryside and a bod about the size of a collared dove took off from ground feeding. Although it was grey, it had what looked like a paint stripe of yellow down its back. I legged after it, but it was gone. I've looked at parrots and woodpecker pictures, but nothing resembles this. All the yellow birds are small and the yellow is in the wrong place. It reminds me of the Cat and the Skunk cartoon where the cat had a paint stripe down its back - that's exactly what this bird looked like. However, I saw the paint strip as it was flying directly away from me from the ground up into trees, so who knows what it looks like when the winds are folded. No other colours - a dour grey!
Cheers guys!

[Monkey Orchid]

I thought, probably a Green woodpecker. They have a yellow rump which can be very visible, like a bright yellow stripe, particularly when they're flying away from you. The rest of their back is a drab olive-green, which could look grey. The description of its behaviour sounds right, too: they often feed on the ground, where they find the ants that are one of their favourite foods.

You don't mention hearing any sounds from the bird, but Green woodpeckers have a distinctive shrill laughing call, sometimes called a 'yaffle'.

Nice sighting.

[Jonners]

As MO, my initial thought would be a Green Woodpecker, which would show that yellow, but might not look particularly green. They also commonly feed on the ground. Was its flight undulating?

[jshea1571]

I think you could be right. I've looked at pictures and although my sighting was very quick - I clearly spooked the bird as I was walking with my beagle, it sounds like it as a green woodpecker. I'm quite impressed - we live on the edge of a 200,000 size town and this sighting was about quarter of a mile from endless countryside with small woods dotted about. I didn't hear any calling, but I'm still chalking it up as a first for me!

Here's one. My mother always had sparrows in her garden for her whole life (in a 'garden city no less) but for the last 5 years nothing. She is spoilt with black sqirrels in her poplar tree, nesting coal tits, full range of chauffinches and tits - even wag-tails, but never any sparrows. I have a small flock that live happily in my 'spiky bush' and she is terribly envious (even though she beats me on exotica): why are there no sparrows in my mother's garden? Is this really something that others have seen?

[jshea1571]

This video shows a similar situation. The yellow is seen in flight which is what I saw! It's hidden when it is feeding on the ground.
YouTube - Green Woodpecker 09

[willowjay]

Hi jsea1571

I'm pleased you have identified this bird now. Green Woodpeckers are one of my favourite birds. They can often be heard giving their distinctive call - the "Yaffle" of their name - it sounds almost like a laugh. They are more common than one might imagine, being quite happy in areas such as parks, large gardens - anywhere with mature trees. (By the way, I'm no expert - this is just what I have noticed).

We have a beautiful bird that comes and digs around in the lawn, disturbing the ants nests (ok, so my lawn is not much good ) and slurping them up with its long tongue.

~ willowjay