Unidentified bird

Ferityelf · #1 (**permalink**) 29-07-2010, 01:13 PM

Hi

I am in the Limousin, France. Last night I watched a bird walk up my Walnut tree. It's stance as it was walking looked like a very minature woodpecker. It was a small bird, brown with no distinctive markings. I think there were two in the tree and they were making a noise like someone clipping a hedge. One snip, then another a few seconds later. It is very similar to a robin tutting but not quite the same. It is smaller than a sparrow, about 1/3 less and has a very pointed beak. I took some pictures, hope someone can identify for me. I have other pictures and will upload them if needed but it wasn't easy the bird was high up. url=http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/archive/showphoto.php?photo=137583]

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faz · #2 (**permalink**) 29-07-2010, 02:58 PM

hi welcome to WAB its a female black cap she has a brown cap as in the picture male has the black cap

rossy · #3 (**permalink**) 29-07-2010, 04:06 PM

the bird you have described in my opinion is that of a tree creeper, and are you sure the birds which faz has named in the photos ? are the ones, rossy. and welcome.

faz · #4 (**permalink**) 29-07-2010, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rossy

the bird you have described in my opinion is that of a tree creeper, and are you sure the birds which faz has named in the photos ? are the ones, rossy. and welcome.

hi rossy my first thought was a nuthatch then reading the description as u thought a tree creeper ? but the pictures i saw were of a black cap im confused lol dont take much

rossy · #5 (**permalink**) 29-07-2010, 04:43 PM

spot on faz

rossy.

Picidae · #6 (**permalink**) 29-07-2010, 05:30 PM

Can't access the link for some reason, but I agree that the description given doesn't sound like a Blackcap but more like a Treecreeper species (I'll take your word for it Faz that picture is indeed a female Blackcap!).

Just a word of 'caution' if there is a confusion with link, France also has 3-toed Treecreepers which look similar! (er, to our Treecreepers that is - not 'similar' to Blackcaps!)

nutmeg · #7 (**permalink**) 29-07-2010, 05:56 PM

I think this is the photo:

Hmm... seems to be a problem with the code I'm copying for the thumbnail, but here's the link to the page:

http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/ar...p?photo=137583

Picidae · #8 (**permalink**) 29-07-2010, 06:13 PM

Yes, that's certainly a male Blackcap. Assuming OP uploaded correct photo, just goes to show how misleading verbal descriptions of unidentified birds can be! Incidentally the vocal description is fine - Blackcaps make a clicking alarm call not too dissimilar to Wrens, Robins & Lesser Whitethroats!

Ferityelf · #9 (**permalink**) 31-07-2010, 02:49 PM

Hi

Thanks for the feedback, I've looked at other images of blackcaps and tree creepers now and I think it is more likely to be a blackcap. Tree creepers seem to have mottled undersides which this didn't have. I've seen it again today and it does seem to have a light brown patch on the top of it's head but it's not round it seems a bit elongated.(yes I know I may need glasses!) Whilst looking at other pictures I also read about their nests being cup like. I found one of these in the garden a few weeks back blown down from somewhere. It was made mostly out of lichen and horse hair, it was perfect.

Thanks again