help for identity please

[forestzoepotts]

Hi, I am hoping someone can help. A couple of weeks ago my 5yr old came in and told me there was an owl on the bird table. Needless to say whatever it was had gone by the time I looked but today I spotted what I thought was a woodpecker, which would have been what she saw I think. By the time I grabbed the camera it had fled to the trees and the attached is the best photo I could get. It was a salmon type colour with blue feathers in its tail and quite large (bigger than a blackbird, smaller than a crow). I've had a look through various websites but cannot id it. Is it a woodpecker or something else?

[forestzoepotts]

sorry I should add that it had a woodpecker type beak and a white tufty head

[Tursiops]

Hi forestzoepotts

From your description and photo, I'd say that was a Jay, although they have blue in the wings rather than the tail. Welcome to the forum.

Tursiops

[forestzoepotts]

I had a look at the Jay on the RSPB website and I do not believe it to be a Jay. The beak was different and it was definately the tail feathers that were blue. I got a good look as it was in flight but just kept missing it with the camera! The head was also white not salmon as shown in the Jay photo I've seen.

I hope it comes back as we seem to be getting more varied wildlife in the garden every week since we bought the bird table, although the woodpigeons scare the smaller birds away!

[Tursiops]

If it's definitely not a Jay, then it's a bit of a puzzler! Perhaps an escaped cage bird of some sort. Hope it comes back and you can get a better photo.
T

PS just had another look at your photo and there does seem to be blue in the tail. Odd, but otherwise it still seems Jay-like to me.

[greg.siddons]

I think the "blue tail" is in fact an artifact of JPEG image compression, rather than of the bird. But, I didn't see it in the flesh of course.

My opinion is that this is indeed a Jay. But, like the rest of you, I am not sure!!!

Greg

[forestzoepotts]

No. the blue was definately in the tail, you could see it in flight, it is not just the photo. I really hope it comes back. I'm sure this is what my daughter must have seen last week so hopefully now it's been twice it will come again.

[Fourwings]

Bit of a puzzler this, hopefully if it returns a better image would lead to a positive ID.

My verdict so far would have to be a Jay.

[forestzoepotts]

well, I'm keeping the camera in the kitchen now, right net to the back door!!

[Fourwings]

Good luck.