Hi there, needing help to identify bird!

[sheiladrums]

Hi, this is my first visit to the forum, and is posted in frustration coz my husband and I have been unable to identify a bird which visited our garden yesterday. Any help would be appreciated.
It was large, maybe 12-14" inches from top to tail. Mostly green on the upper part, but wings and lower part inc. tail (which was long) was darker slate-y blue. Had a black plume/puff on top of its head; particularly noticeable were its red beak (short, powerful, seed-eater?) and red eyes. White patches in front and behind eyes, and across chest; and when it used its wings, they were red underneath! It perched in our apple tree and eventually descended to feed briefly on the fallen apples on the grass underneath. I heard it make 2 or 3 different types of calls, a screech-y sounding one and a more chirruppy descending sound. it was quite stunning and we spent half an hour observing it.
We've had a look through books and reckon it's not a native species, maybe something exotic that's escaped. I want to upload a photo, but don't know how on this site - advice would be very much welcomed!!
In hope of solving our mystery,
regards to all
Sheila

[Tursiops2]

Hi there sheiladrums and welcome to the forum
Your bird is a bit of a puzzler. It sounds like you've ruled out Jay and Green woodpecker, which are probably the most exotic-looking native birds likely to visit gardens, so it probably is an escape.

A photo is essential here, I think. To learn how to upload, click on the "info" icon in the bar at the top of the page, then click on "how can i upload photos to forum posts" for full instructions. I'm looking forward to seeing this

What part of the country are you in?

T2

[naturelover]

hi welcome to wab,sounds like a woodpecker to me,but with out a picture i cant be sure.

[agrumpycow]

Sounds a bit of an oddity! Whereabouts are you?

I can only think of green woodpecker, or possibly ring-necked parakeet but neither fit you're description exactly

Hope you work it out in the end, let us know!

[John]

It sounds like some form of an escapee to me. Perhaps one of the parrot type species.

Hopefully one of the experts on caged birds may know your bird from your description.

John

[big bill]

Hello and welcome to the site I think a pic is needed herev to help in Id

[baggy2508]

Hi. Could it be an escaped White Cheeked Touraco, this seems to fit the description.

[sheiladrums]

hi, have just spent painful 45mins grappling with uploading some images. They are in the archive (I think! techology not my strong point), try this:



there are 5 pics in all. Search for unidentified bird West Sussex parrot?

I am very appreciative of all your responses! Thanks very much. Will check out your suggestions.
Thanks Tursiops2 for tips on uploading

Hope to hear from you all again.

[sheiladrums]

ah, clever, I didn't realise the picture would actually appear in the window.
here's another one.



the others are in the archive, good luck with the identifying!
regards and thanks
Sheila
(ps this has been a great intro to the site!)

[paulchandler6]

Originally Posted by baggy2508

Hi. Could it be an escaped White Cheeked Touraco, this seems to fit the description.

I think your ID could well be right. It does appear to be one from the pic. An African species.

Paul