Unusual bird

[rpb]

An unusual bird has just visited my garden in Southampton - it was slightly smaller than a blackbird but had bright yellow wings and upper body, a deep red under body and a black head and pointed beak. It nibbled on some fat balls and flew off.

Any ideas?

[tufftie]

It must be an exotic escapee but not sure what!

[aeshna5]

Make sure you have a camera handy if it returns. As Tuftie suggests, it must be an escapee from your description.

[ladyhawk]

Might have been a goldfinch pretty little thing got some pics of them in my neighbours garden.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by ladyhawk

Might have been a goldfinch pretty little thing got some pics of them in my neighbours garden.

Possibly, but the description by OP said deep red underbody which a Goldfinch doesn't + is a lot smaller than a Blackbird.

[Kayleigh]

Sounds like a male Baltimore Oriole..
Not sure if these are kept as pets.

http://www.1-costaricalink.com/costa...ore_oriole.jpg

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

Sounds like a male Baltimore Oriole..
Not sure if these are kept as pets.

http://www.1-costaricalink.com/costa...ore_oriole.jpg

I did see a wild Baltimore Oriole near Oxford about a decade or so back. Common birds in eastern North America (replaced by Bullock's in the west) but very rare vagrant to the UK, but I suspect they are kept by aviculturists, so a possible escape. Again I wouldn't describe the belly as deep red, but more orange, but people's perception of colour does vary.

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

I did see a wild Baltimore Oriole near Oxford about a decade or so back. Common birds in eastern North America (replaced by Bullock's in the west) but very rare vagrant to the UK, but I suspect they are kept by aviculturists, so a possible escape. Again I wouldn't describe the belly as deep red, but more orange, but people's perception of colour does vary.

We will probably never know what it is without a pic its just a guess.
Interesting one turned up in Oxford.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

We will probably never know what it is without a pic its just a guess.
Interesting one turned up in Oxford.

Exactly- but I think your suggestion is a reasonable one. Perhaps the OP can look at photos of suggested birds to see if either of the suggestions resemble what he/she saw. Size wise your suggestion fits better than Goldfinch.

[tufftie]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

Common birds in eastern North America (replaced by Bullock's in the west)

Really Aeshna - that's quite an evolutionary jump.... from bird to bullock!!!!

It really doesn't sound like a greenfinch. Not sure about the oriole either as the OP mentions bright yellow wings. I'll carry on searching the net!