Red Faced Bird?

[MooCowKat]

This morning I saw a red faced bird on my windowsill, it had a very bright red face and beautiful black nearly blue wings and back. I wasn't quick enough to snap a photo but it's been bothering me all day what kind of bird it was. I'm thinking it was possibly someone's pet as I don't think it was a native bird?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Been trawling through google images of 'red face bird' for a while!!

[MooCowKat]

Aw thanks Methyl, but I didn't manage to get one! I was so intrigued by it and then it flew away :(

[jomifl]

Goldfinch?

[bunkmoreland]

like jom said http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/g/goldfinch/

[MooCowKat]

Do they have blue/black wings? Thanks!! I thought it was a tropical bird LOL.

[Prudie]

Goldfinches do have red faces but they have (funnily enough) very bright yellow on their wings, buff breasts and some black and white flashing on wing tips - that doesn't sound at all like your description.
What size was it? If really blue/black all over except for a red face it doesn't sound like any native wild bird I know.

[vulcan42]

Was it as bright as this?
http://www.theguardian.com/science/punctuated-equilibrium/2011/sep/11/4

[MooCowKat]

Slightly bigger than a robin. The wings were a really beautiful black and with the sun light hitting them almost looked a metallic blue, but the only other thing I focused on was the red face. You can now see why it's been bugging me and I am truely kicking myself for not getting a picture!

[jakep]

Black redstart?

[melv16]

Sounds like a swallow to me.

[jakep]

Oops, no, sorry. Red is at wrong end!

[MooCowKat]

Oh my goodness!! Melv16 I think you're right! I half recognised it but I've never saw one so close. Thanks so much everybody I'm going to keep my eyes peeled for it again!

[Prudie]

Melv, that actually seems an excellent suggestion, can't think why we all didn't think of that. Moocowcat have you looked at swallow?

[MooCowKat]

Yeah just been looking at pictures and I really think it was a swallow! What a beautiful bird. Im new to bird watching, just been trying to keep an eye on ones in the garden. Thanks everybody!

[melv16]

You don't usually see them that close, prudie. Most of the time they're wizzing about at great speed.

[Chipchopper]

Going by your description, it sounds like a 'scarlet tanager' but that is native to North America, but they have apparently been spotted in the Isles of Scilly.

[melv16]

Mookat. Go and buy a decent pair of binoculars & join the club:-)

[MooCowKat]

Thanks Melv! I really think I will, thanks so much. It was sat pecking for about 10 seconds and whizzed off again! And thanks everybody else!!

[Prudie]

Yes melv, because I've never seen one on a window ledge it just didn't register but obvious now.

[dannyk13]

You may find it here:-
http://www.whatbird.com/browse/objs/all/birds_na_147/110/color/2066/red