Escaped bird

[Hedgehoggy]

That must have been somewhat of a surprise seeing such a beautiful exotic bird in your garden! A few years ago a blue budgie turned up in my garden with a flock of starlings. It fed alongside them and left with them too (it was much noisier than the starlings put together!!). After the second day of seeing it arrive with the starlings I borrowed a bird cage, filled it with food and watched and waited. No chance! It wouldn’t go anywhere near the cage, preferring its short-lived freedom. It didn’t return with the starlings after day 4.

If it returns again it might be worthwhile contacting your local vets, pet shop etc., to see if anybody has reported it missing, not that there's any guarantee that it will happily agree to a recapture!

[Ukwildlifeo]

Saw this on your facebook. great looking bird

[RoyW]

I bet that it was a bit of a surprise to see something so bright when you first saw it!

Originally Posted by Ollie

It's a Southern Red or orange Bishop male - Euplectes orix.

If you'll allow me to make a small correction, it's actually a Fire-crowned (or Black-winged) Bishop, Euplectes hordeaceus.
Male Southern Red Bishops have a black forehead when in breeding plumage, and browner primaries + a smaller bill at all times. This one will probably be moulting into much drabber non-breeding plumage very soon.

[~T~]

You might find it does ok. I was just reading this thread the other week and this bird seemed to live quite happily in the persons garden for months until they stopped updating.

strange red bird , can anybody help id it?

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by ~T~

You might find it does ok. I was just reading this thread the other week and this bird seemed to live quite happily in the persons garden for months until they stopped updating.

strange red bird , can anybody help id it?

..and coincidentally, the bird in that thread is also a related species, not a Southern Red Bishop!

[faz]

agree with roy i did think looking at it ploceus aurantius (orange weaver )

but closer study still agree with roy

[darrenm]

Nice find and enjoy it.

Have seen male Zebra Finch, a colour fed orange Canary and a bright Yellow Budgie on my local patch in the last few years. The Budgie took to flying around with a flock of Lapwing of all things for a few days but then vanished.

What camera settings and lens did you use to capture these superb shots?

[Ollie]

Thanks for all the comments everyone, and in particular Roy for the full ID appreciated.

[RKB]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

I heard other birds attack brightly coloured ones have you noticed anything like this..

Old wives' tale.

Kingfishers, Great Tits, Golden Orioles, Green Woodpeckers and Crossbills don't get any hassle.

[wizzo]

What a fab shot of a stunning looking bird! Wizzo