Garden newbies! And ID help

[Michelleatiisis]

Well, after around 3 or 4 weeks since the flurry of activity that brought hundreds of birds to my land, we have finally had the day i have been waiting for!
The usual great & blue tits, chaffinch, robin and blackbird - but this morning, not on my feeders but just generally about in an area where there are a load of thorny brambles, some goldfinch were back, along with some birds who I have seen before but have not been about for a while.
I need some help to identify them (as I am new to birds) - I thought it was a Siskin but it's not. Every pic i look at a Siskin shows the male to have a black 'cap' bit on his head and not a stripy body.
There are around 3 pairs of them. They seem shy because they won't venture near the house end where the feeders are, and when the Rooks come in they scarper.
They are like a big finch. The head is glow in the dark yellow - I mean really yellow and it has some stripes like eyeliner on Egyptian Pharaohs. The yellow extends to the top of the body but then the body is stripey brown, viewed from the back is similar markings to female sparrow?

I also had 2 wrens in my garden for the first time and the song thrush were back! Very pleased!

[Dogghound]

Sound like Yellowhammer.

[htcdude]

Your bird sounds very much like a Siskin to me. The only thing similar is Yellowhammer, but I think they're usually on their own.

Nige


Beat me to it Dogghound!

[Michelleatiisis]

Wow that was quick! Thank you! I googled yellowhammer and yes, they are indeed yellowhammers!
That has been bugging me for ages!
Wonder if I can get them to the feeders...?

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by htcdude

but I think they're usually on their own.

Yellowhammer can form quite large flocks in winter, I regularly see groups of 30+ birds in the stubble fields around here. They do often group up with reed, corn, snow and lapland buntings too, making larger flocks.

[Michelleatiisis]

Yep, deffo yellowhammers, I have looked up the females too, it's deffo them! Hope they come back - they knock about with the goldfinch as well.

[Dogghound]

They tend to feed more on the ground, I suspect the odd bird would come to feeders in hard conditions. If you want to feed them put seed on the ground in an open area close to where you have seen them.

[Blizzard]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

They tend to feed more on the ground, I suspect the odd bird would come to feeders in hard conditions. If you want to feed them put seed on the ground in an open area close to where you have seen them.

I'm lucky enough to have 10 to 12 yellowhammers feeding daily underneath the feeders and on a wall just outside my window where I put food out. I do have the odd one that feeds from the feeder but not very successfully.

Definitely worth putting seed out where you saw them Michelleatiisis and I wouldn't be surprised if before long they'll be under your feeders too. They do get braver as the cold weather continues.

[Cowgirl]

I have a couple of yellowhammers which regularly venture into the garden in winter. Never seen them on the feeders but they certainly feed underneath. They are striking, really bright coloured little birds (well the male is anyway).

[htcdude]

Originally Posted by Cowgirl

They are striking, really bright coloured little birds (well the male is anyway).

I think they're one of the best looking birds against the snow, the Bullfinch being the best of course

Nige