Orange bird with a black head?

jon1968 | 14:27 Fri 31st Jul 2009 | Animals & Nature

28 Answers

Sorry it's not much to go on but that's all I've been told? Can anyone hazard a guess as to what this might be... sounds like Posh spice to me!
Apparently it's about the size of a tit?

What breed is this?

Byron the Cheetah Teacher video?

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tonyav

the size of posh spices tits !.

sn�gs

Which Country?

jon1968

Question Author

Nope, the size of a feathered variety tit!
Sorry, it's down in Kent, bizarre looking thing by all accounts.

sn�gs

Redstart?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/mid/sites/in_pictur es/images/rodneyholbrook/redstart_400x300.jpg

-- answer removed --

sn�gs

Bullfinch?

http://www.westmidlandbirdclub.com/images/gall ery/BroomeN/Bullfinch20040302b.jpg

Can you tell I'm bored...

jon1968

Question Author

Got some snaps...

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z272/jon196 8_photos/bird005.jpg

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z272/jon196 8_photos/bird007.jpg

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z272/jon196 8_photos/bird2.jpg

Don't think a bullfinch, looks too bright? :-S

Milvus

Yellowhammer

burnhal

closest european bird I can find is a black-headed bunting- but that is generally SE Europe. However its black head does not extend under the chin. Nearest Uk bird is the Siskin but the head has lots of yellow in it. My best guess- based on my memories of my dads avairy, is an escaped canary. Normally you think of a canary as all yellow- however- with non-selective breeding they quickly revert back towards wild colours and many of my dads ones looked much like your photo. Mind you, havent checked the american bird books yet.........

burnhal

that aint no yellowhammer, Milvus. Just had a look in my american stuff- thought it could be an american goldfinch gone astray- but far too much black on the head and orioles are far too big. will stick with the canary for now unless someone finds something better

barry1010

Juvenile redstart.
http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name /r/redstart/index.asp

China Doll

Not the sort of bird watching you normally indulge in but also quite cute...

burnhal

juvenile redstart.................hmmmmm dont think so http://www.treknature.com/gallery/Europe/Unite d_Kingdom/photo169182.htm

Gromit

I have seen the same thing,

Behind the cosmetics counter at Boots.

jon1968

Question Author

Thanks for all your help, I�m up there tomorrow so I�ll try and get some better pics if it�s still about. Funny looking thing though eh!?

josaphine32

http://www.123rf.com/photo_960506.html

Is this the bird!!!

jon1968

Question Author

Oooh, blimey Josaphine, that does look like it! Doesn�t say what it is though� the photographers from Spain, maybe it�s got lost!?

Meant to say special thanks to Burnhal who's obviously very knowledgable.

Cetti

I'm going to go with burnhal and say Black Headed Bunting.

It is a scarce visitor to these shores having made only 171 appearances since 1950, but it is a distinct possibility. Another reason is that it leaves Europe for its winter quarters in Africa in July - and this is when we see vagrants when they either get blown off course or lose their bearings.

The strange colouring could be because it's a hybrid - apparently the Red-head and Black-headed Buntings interbreed locally...so there's another thought. Fascinating..dying to see more pics!!

jon1968

Question Author

jno

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http: //www.naturephoto-cz.com/photos/mraz/black-hea ded--bunting-06a5072.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www. naturephoto-cz.com/black-headed--bunting:ember iza-melanocephala-photo-2544.html&usg=__M9cfg4 hnIjUqiQ9QYZDJcS3RC3Q=&h=480&w=600&sz=139&hl=e n&start=2&tbnid=xs7aFxtvWhJcpM:&tbnh=108&tbnw= 135&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dblack%2Bheaded%2Bbuntin g%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG

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