Religion & Spirituality0 min ago
'Headless' bird to identify...
16 Answers
A 'kind' friend has sent me one of his bird pictures to identify. He knows of course but thinks it's amusing to make me suffer as he's taken the picture in such a way that the bird looks headless making it doubly difficult!
This is what I can see: All buff coloured underneath with brown streaking (like a Thrush) on throat and underbody. Wings and upper body looks as though it's all brown and the tail similar in shape to Chaffinch with the W at the end.
Anyone willing to help will have my eternal gratitude :-)
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Oh Cetti surely you're not beaten? (If so then what hope do any of us have!?) If there's nothing else on the pic to give any idea of size it's difficult isn't it? Think you need to ask for a clue! Tell him the Boas will be round to sort him out.
Hope you saw my reply to your reed bunting Q's - I saw 4 yesterday. :-)
Not beaten Robby, but certainly baffled as the cunning way its been photographed gives no indication of size - which is normally the first good starting point for any identification.
My instinct tells me it's possibly a juvenile Merlin but I'll wait a bit... Yes, I did see your reply. I'm so pleased that they are staying around - and Yes, he's a bit of all right - to your other remark :-D
Thanks FastBarry, but being buff coloured underneath rules out both Dunnock and Cuckoo. This bird has an almost cream underbelly with dark brown streaking just along the flank and throat area.
Mmm, I was thinking raptor with Merlin, but definitely not a Sparrowhawk or Buzzard as these have barred chests as opposed to streaked. The tail is quite short and has a wedged, knotched tail similar to a bunting or finch.
This is so frustrating. I wish I could put it online somehow. I do appreciate your answers - thank you.
He's finally send me another picture with the answer.
It was a Meadow Pipit - in a tree! Having seen these birds by the score over the years it doesn't match anything in any of my books - still, that's what it is.
If he should do this again I'm going to try and find a way to post it on AB if this is feasable.....or even allowed - copyright and all that!
Hooray! Mystery solved and I can see why it was difficult, poor little thing is descibed in my book as insignificant! Bet your friend has enjoyed his tease Cetti, just be sure he doesn't send you any doctored pics to catch you out!
Still waiting for the migrants - met a lady today who lives near Carsington water & she said there were swallows there in early March.
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