Bird ID

[sneaky]

Hi,great forums ....Ok just walked out into the back garden and saw a very small yellow/green bird (didn't look that old) with a black band across the eyes there were no other color's on it except the black band,it looked very much like some kind of tit,wondered if you could help me ID it,if it helps my garden backs on to a small wood!...Thanks in advance

[Fieldfare95]

Hi Sneaky, welcome to WAB
Yes it sounds like a blue tit to me.

[sneaky]

But there was no other color except yellow....it had the shape of a tit but looked nothing like the blue tits we get visiting,is this normal for young birds?

[Picidae]

sorry but that description fits any number of birds. Did you notice the bill colour/shape? Did it call? What was it's behaviour?

The most likely would be a Willow Warbler but as I say ....

Galleriet - Netfugl.dk

Chiffchaff

Galleriet - Netfugl.dk

Wood Warbler is possible but an unlikely visitor to a garden (unless you back onto a reasonable large woodland with mature deciduous trees and even then they prefer shady canopies)

Galleriet - Netfugl.dk

What's your location?

[Picidae]

Scroll through some of these Willow Warblers (remember there is a lot of variation within individual birds, some more yellow than others, some with stronger eyestripes than others)

Iris

[John B (NTS)]

Not sure I can buy into the notion of a leaf warbler with a black band through the eye. I'm preferring juvenile Blue Tit which would be mainly yellow and green.

[sneaky]

My house backs onto a small wood,the bird itself was sat on a barbwire fence,wasn't calling or particularly animated but looking at those pictures the last one (wood warbler) is near enough identical apart from this one had less of a grey underbelly it was more yellow,thanks for all the help

[Picidae]

Originally Posted by sneaky

My house backs onto a small wood,the bird itself was sat on a barbwire fence,wasn't calling or particularly animated but looking at those pictures the last one (wood warbler) is near enough identical apart from this one had less of a grey underbelly it was more yellow,thanks for all the help

Wood Warblers have a clean white belly so I suspect you saw a juvenile Willow Warbler which can appear very yellow and do have bolder stripes than adults (as they are in fresh plumage obviously!)

If you scroll down a few pages on the link below (sorry not in English) you will see some nice photos of juveniles (the bright yellow ones with dark eye stripes!)

http://www.ibercajalav.net/img/381_P..._trochilus.pdf

and another
http://gallery.photo.net/photo/4968841-lg.jpg

[ChrisJB]

I'm thinking juvenile blue tit as well.

Regards, chris

[Picidae]

Juvenile Blue Tit
Blue Tit juvenile - Parus caeruleus - Captured this morning in my garden. Wildlife Photography @ http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/gallery

Without a more accurate description, I can't see this being pinned down either way - However, the OP noted the dark/black eyestripe but didn't note the dark cap/crown (which is about the same tone as eyestripe) or bluish primaries? - juvenile Blue Tits are actually not that yellow on the belly either IME, they're actually more pale creamy yellow!

I haven't read anything in the description to rule out a young Willow Warbler

''saw a very small yellow/green bird (didn't look that old) with a black band across the eyes there were no other color's on it except the black band''

(doesn't fit a juvenile Blue Tit imo)