Saw a very unusual bird in the park today!

[Pigeonwings]

Hello, I'm new and wondered if anyone could shed some light on the identity of the bird I spotted in the park this afternoon?

It was tiny, smaller than a sparrow but was hanging around with all the sparrows in the hedgerow. It had a bright red/orange beak that was shaped like a bullfinch's and was a peachy colour on its chest with a grey back and black and white striped tail.

Beautiful little bird but I've never seen anything like it! Have looked in my birdie books at home but nothing matches it.

Many thanks in advance for your help.

[Anders152]

An escapee Zebra Finch?

[The Woodman]

Hi Pigeonwings and welcome to WAB.

My first thought was along the lines of a Waxbill, but I'm editing this as I believe Anders 152 has ID'd it. I knew what I was thinking but couldn't put a name to it!

[artdemole]

Might have been a wren.

[Shrike]

Apart from the tail sounds a bit like brambling,they do have balack and white wings though,or also could be nuthatch.just a couple of possibilities.

[htcdude]

I agree with Anders152 on this your description fits a Zebra Finch very well

Nige

[Dogghound]

Redpoll? very hard to say without a photo.

[~T~]

It does sound like an escapee zebra finch.

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by Anders152

An escapee Zebra Finch?

Nothing else fits the description given.

[tcvarlh]

It does sound like an escaped female Zebra Finch, Taeniopygia guttata as Anders said. The males have obvious cheek patches.