birds

[gil-rob]

When walking through the woodland yesterday I spotted a bird I could not identify... It had an all white head, speckled breast with black back and wings. It was a bit smaller than a female blackbird.. has anyone any suggestions what it could have been. I would be so grateful .

[bensmum]

Might have been one of the spotted woodpeckers although they do have black on their heads too. The female lesser spotted does not have a red cap like the male
http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name /L/LesserSpottedWoodpecker/index.asp

[echokilo]

I agree with bensmum, sounds like Woody Woodpecker to me too

[gil-rob]

Thank you bensmum and echokilo for a swift reply! I've looked at the bird in my book and from the link you posted, it looks the same size but there was no black at all on the head, only on the back, which was completely plain... Have I maybe spotted a rare species??????

[Avatar]

Was the woodland you were walking through in the United Kingdom?

[Cetti]

It could be a rarity, gil-rob, which is exciting, but if possible. could you give us a bit more info, such as - was the bird, on the ground, in a tree, running, hopping, size, shape of bill?

Just a few more to look at - Mistle Thrush, Fieldfare, Whitethroat, Tree Pipit and Dunnock. Distance and lighting play a huge part in id, getting it right ....or horribly wrong. Dying to know what it was!

[jenniprice]

It was most likely that it was a lesser spotted woodpecker. Males have a largely white head, you may have seen the bird mid moult or turning to first adult plumage therefore mixing up unusual colour combinations not usually in id guides.
Otherwise it could be a fieldfare or a juvenile mistle thrush.

[gil-rob]

Thank you all for your replies! and yes Avatar it was in the UK in a small wooded area in between two small housing estates. It was sitting in a tree,it didnt seem to be too bothered that i was watching it. But as jenniprice suggested I think maybe she could be right...it probably was the "woodpecker" in moulting stage. Thank you all again for taking time to reply to me!