garden bird

pjproby

anyone recognize this bird? I see him flitting around the back garden a lot-about the size of a young blackbird-but no idea what it actually is.

Judgement Day

A juvenile Blackbird ?

Mr. Presentable

Judgement Day wrote: »

A juvenile Blackbird ?

I concur.

pjproby

i doubt it-solitary character-ignores blackbirds-definitely flies in a different manner to other blackbirds around- i wonder is it a hawk of some kind?
thanks for the replies

tertials

It's a young Starling.

Judgement Day

Sorry - it is not a hawk of any kind. It is a juvenile bird (born this year) probably a blackbird but the pic could be clearer.

Yes, a young starling also occured to me but as I say the pic could be clearer

pjproby

body mass seems all wrong for a starling-inundated with starlings anyway-this guy is alone all alone-will try and get a better photo tomorrow.

jmkennedyie

My vote young starling :-) ... slope of forehead and thinning beak

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Yes. A juv. Starling

V Bull

Definitely a juvenile blackbird as Judgement Day & Nipplenuts have both stated.

Please compare the attached photo of a fledgling Blackbird by Jackie Harris taken from the British Garden Birds website. Note the beak shape and colour, eye setting / placement, colour of feathers and colour of feet etc.

http://www.garden-birds.co.uk/birds/blackbird.htm

V

AlanSparrowhawk

Fledgling Blackbird



First Winter Starling



I'd have to agree with V Bull

pjproby

anyway, the fecker has not appeared since. it is his solitary behaviour that intrigues me, and his flight pattern which seems different to either a blackbird or a starling, I'll ask him(or her) to pose properly next time.

Kess73

It is a young starling that is a week or two out of the nest. The beak has not shaped yet, and will get longer and thinner over the next few weeks. The skull shape is totally wrong for a young blackbird, as is the plumage.


Young starlings like that often just stand staring for minutes on end, and sometimes will seem slow to react, and will have an awkward flying style for the first two to three weeks out of the nest, often hitting into windows, and landing poorly on branches.

Also if it tilts it's head upwards, you will see a dirthy white/cream patch under it's beak more often than not, during it's first two weeks out of the nest.