European passerine..

[Graham Etherington]

... and that's about all I'm giving you :-)

And remember... "Don't phone, it's just for fun!"

[Nathan Kipling]

I'd say it's a female or juvenile common rosefinch?

[marklhawkes]

Juv Two-barred Crossbill

[forktail]

TBCrossbill

prob taken on Shetland / Fair Isle this year...?

F.

[Brian S]

I'd have looked at this and initially thought along the lines of 2-barred Xbill, but then thought the upperparts are neither heavily streaked enough, nor have the tertials got the white notches near the tips (see http://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/naturelatest/pics08/080808%20Two-barred%20Crossbill%20imm2.jpg)

I think that Nathan is closer with this. (see
http://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/naturelatest/pics08/2008-09-28-008.jpg)

Brian S

[forktail]

Hi Brian

I also thought along similar lines but didn't search for rosefinch images as I had a class on the way! Perhaps the wings don't look black enough for TBC and the white edging to the covs isn't white enough for a TBC etc. Plus the remiges aren't white/pale edged as in TBC. I think you're correct.

My ID was maybe hasty and based on the fact that a lot of TBC were photographed on grass this year and Graeme was up north this autumn with his camera...

[RoyW]

I think that TBC can be ruled out by the shape of the greater covert bar.
Common Rosefinch is probably right, but could it be a 'wing barred' Common Crossbill?

[LeeEvans]

On a snatch view like this from behind, I would go with Nathan and plump for immature COMMON ROSEFINCH with this bird - it certainly has all of the features one would associate with that species - covert bars, tertial tipping, lightly streaked mantle, olive plumage, plaer underparts

[Hawfinch535]

I would also go with immature Common Rosefinch for this ID

[Graham Etherington]

Well done Nathan for having the first correct answer and well done Brian for saving me the effort of explaining why it's a Common Rosefinch :-)

A photo of the same bird (scoffing black sunflower seeds) taken on Fair Isle on 10 Oct 08 is shown below.

[marklhawkes]

That'll teach me for trying to be clever and go against the first answer given!!

[DaveN]

I know this is late but I only just saw the photo.

Take a look at the primary projection - the exposed length and the tip spacings rule out Two- barred immediately IMHO .

:)


Dave