Can anyone help identify this bird please?

MagB · #1 (**permalink**) 12-02-2011, 02:06 PM

I have only been feeding and watching birds in my garden for a few months and recognise the normal finches and tits that do us the honour of visiting on a daily basis.

One has turned up today that I can't find in any bird book, taking into consideration. male. female and juvenile. It's markings are as follows:

Size: about the same as a goldfinch or a little smaller.
Beak: smallish, yellowish, pointed.
Chest: mottled similar to a mistle thrush, creamish, with black and cream zebra stripes running down the sides of its chest...very distinctive. Cream underbelly.
Wings: black and yellow stripes, not blocked like a goldfinch.
Head: brown and fawn with no distinctive marks. (if I remember correctly!)
The most striking thing to me were the 2'ish black zebra stripes running down the sides of its chest close to its wing feathers.

It returned several times and chomped on the nija seeds like a goldfinch does.

I live in the Midlands on a quiet urban estate.

I hope this is enough to ID it. Thanks for reading

nutmeg · #2 (**permalink**) 12-02-2011, 02:12 PM

I'm not a bird expert, so might be way off the mark, but sounds a bit like a female siskin to me.

MagB · #3 (**permalink**) 12-02-2011, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nutmeg

I'm not a bird expert, so might be way off the mark, but sounds a bit like a female siskin to me.

That was a consideration when I looked throught the books. The only thing that put me off was it seemed a little more steam lined than the drawings in the books but having seen some photo's I think you are right. So...we have our first siskin!! Woo hooo!!

Thanks for you prompt reply