Bird Id please

Suzanne B · #1 (**permalink**) 26-06-2012, 11:29 PM

There has been a definite increase in the number of birds using the feeders at the allotment in the last week or so. We mostly get sparrows, robins, blue tits and great tits.
I was wondering if this is a juvenile great tit or maybe a coal tit. Can anyone tell from the photo?

Thanks

chris butterworth · #2 (**permalink**) 27-06-2012, 11:21 AM

It's a Coal Tit - but it looks more like an adult, most juvs at the moment are still showing a bit of a yellow gape at the base of the bill.

Chris

Suzanne B · #3 (**permalink**) 27-06-2012, 12:24 PM

Excellent!

Thanks Chris, I was hoping it was a coal tit as I haven't seen one up there before, so that it very good news for me.

And yes I see what you mean about the yellow gape, when I was watching Springwatch this year they were very apparent in the young birds in the nests and this one definitely doesn't have one. That will be useful for me to remember with my next sightings.
Thanks

chris butterworth · #4 (**permalink**) 28-06-2012, 01:26 PM

Glad to be of help. I was waiting for a bus, after wandering around heathland near my house, and there were about 8 Coal Tit feeding in some Scots Pines opposite ( along with 3 Goldcrest ) and it was surprisingly 'easy' to pick out the juvs. The gape was really bright against the dark plumage and foliage.

Chris

RoyW · #5 (**permalink**) 03-07-2012, 06:09 PM

Look again at this one Chris!
It's definitely a Great Tit, some are quite pale and washed out like this one.

chris butterworth · #6 (**permalink**) 04-07-2012, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoyW

Look again at this one Chris!
It's definitely a Great Tit, some are quite pale and washed out like this one.

I was going on the shape of the cap more than anything. Looking at it again I have to ask myself " When was the last time you saw a Coal Tit with a bill that size, you daft old bu**er? ".

Thanks Roy. The number of very pale, and very grey, Great Tits seems to be rising, here in the north-west, with a higher percentage of them than 'yellow' ones.

Chris

reninfrance · #7 (**permalink**) 09-07-2012, 08:52 PM

Could your visitor be a young blackcap? url=http://www.wildabouttheworld.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/19054]

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ren

chris butterworth · #8 (**permalink**) 10-07-2012, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reninfrance

Could your visitor be a young blackcap? url=http://www.wildabouttheworld.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/19054]

[/url]

ren

The cap would be brown in a young Blackcap ( like a female ) plus the earcoverts would be 'dusky' / brown, and you can just make out the black 'bib', blackish stripe down the breast and belly, and a touch of yellow on the breast side / flank in the photo. Blackcap was one of the 'possibles' I considered, at first.

Chris

Suzanne B · #9 (**permalink**) 10-07-2012, 04:36 PM

Thanks Roy, Chris and Reninfrance.

I have realised from this thread (although I suspect that I already knew

) that I don't think I will ever be able to id birds to a specific individual. There are so many that are so similar but are completely different and even when I think I've got it cracked the variation of the same bird comes into play.
I think it would have helped if my photo was a bit clearer in the first place , but you know what those birds are like as soon as they get a whiff that you are getting your camera out they fly away.

Thank you all for your help and I shall go and amend my photo in the gallery.
Suzanne