garden id please!

greenace233 · #1 (**permalink**) 20-02-2011, 09:21 AM

hi everyone

I have no picture unfortunately, my camera is out of action at the momment.
i have spotted a bird in the garden for the 1st time today so here goes.

Its almost like a thrush but have yellow markings in the wings and yellow strips around the head. slightly smaller than a thrush. spots on the breast but very irregular. brown in colour. im sure its an easy one but im still learning daily!! thank you debbie

RoyW · #2 (**permalink**) 20-02-2011, 09:55 AM

It's diffiicult to do more than guess from such a brief description.

If you are certain that it is not a thrush of any kind, my first guess would be a female Yellowhammer (the amount of yellow can be very variable on these).
Other possibilities could be female Siskin, or even a Meadow Pipit. All are much smaller than a Song Thrush.

aeshna5 · #3 (**permalink**) 20-02-2011, 11:29 AM

Though it hasn't got yellow in the wing, Redwing crossed my mind as it is a small thrush + has pale supercilium .

Look this up + Roy's suggestions in the Gallery to see if any match your bird. Redwing are quite common in gardens this time of year either feeding on invertebrates/fallen fruit on the ground or on berries in shrubs/trees.

faz · #4 (**permalink**) 20-02-2011, 11:33 AM

redwing was my first thought aswell

greenace233 · #5 (**permalink**) 20-02-2011, 12:53 PM

hi everyone

Ive had another look with bins and ive narrowed it down to a redwing or tree pipit, its not any of the others according to the Gallery. its a fairly chubby little thing, i have a large tree full of red berries. it hasnt moved all morning and it appears to be alone. im down in suffolk and have never seen one in our gardens before. i also have a pair of black caps taken up residency, where do they like to nest & which food do they like? i may be able to help them! i find it all amazing as i live near the town on a busy road that backs onto an industrial site. debbie

greenace233 · #6 (**permalink**) 20-02-2011, 01:10 PM

Hi everyone

Me again, i have just looked out on this berry tree and have a least 20 or 30 of these birds, pipits or redwings, still not sure, all the neighbours are out in force having a look. hopefully of these fallen berries will get eaten up, the dog keeps bringing them in the house on his paws. how exciting! debbie

RoyW · #7 (**permalink**) 20-02-2011, 01:16 PM

Although they don't have any yellow in the plumage, the pale stripe over the eye + the indistinct pale wing panels sometimes seen on Redwings are off white so can look yellowish.
I should have mentioned Redwing, which is a winter migrant thrush, but discounted in because of the yellow!

Redwing is the right size, and would be attracted to a bush of berries, they also often look quite chunky on cold days. Tree Pipit is a summer migrant.

greenace233 · #8 (**permalink**) 20-02-2011, 08:11 PM

hi and thank you for all the comments,. Think we are safe in saying its a redwing flock. Never seen them around these parts before. had a peek at around 3 and looked to be around 40 or so. The poor mistle thrush who has been gaurding his tree for the past few weeks is most put out. The blackbirds have also got brave and are all on the tree. Happy days!!