Bird ID please

Monkaa

I was watching out the top window of my house when I noticed loads of rooks attacking the suet balls from my bird table which is a regular occurrence but then a bird flew down onto the grass which Ive never seen before. It had a red body with black wings looking at it from the back and looked a similar size to the rooks themselves. A magpie quickly chased it away out of my garden which I was really annoyed about lol as never got a proper look but when it flew off it was the red colour that really caught my eye! I mentioned it to Dad who said he'd seen the same bird another day at the suet balls feeding away & it had a beak like a woodpecker he thinks? Could it have been a woodpecker? I looked at photos of the spotted woodpecker but this bird had more red & dont think it had any white on it, could have tho! Hopefully it visits again soon!

Pie Man

Jay is the only thing i can think of, more pink than red do.

whyulittle

What part of the country are you in? The Great Spotted Woodpecker is mostly reported down the east coast.

Monkaa

whyulittle wrote: »

What part of the country are you in? The Great Spotted Woodpecker is mostly reported down the east coast.

South Dublin on the border of wicklow, I think it could have been a Jay, I was looking at loads of photos & it seems the closest thing to it! I hope it comes back soon & I get a proper look at it!!

Monkaa

Monkaa wrote: »

whyulittle wrote: »

What part of the country are you in? The Great Spotted Woodpecker is mostly reported down the east coast.

South Dublin on the border of wicklow, I think it could have been a Jay, I was looking at loads of photos & it seems the closest thing to it! I hope it comes back soon & I get a proper look at it!!

It was a lot more red tho & my dad agrees so I'll keep my options open for now!

cuddlycavies

male sparrowhawk? Smaller though

dodderangler

cuddlycavies wrote: »

male sparrowhawk? Smaller though

Was thinkin the same myself
Male spars aren't known for killin magpies more so small song birds and they would naturally fly away from
A maggie than have conflict with one
A female on other hand will take them with ease but only if it gets above it

whyulittle

cuddlycavies wrote: »

male sparrowhawk? Smaller though

dodderangler wrote: »

Was thinkin the same myself
Male spars aren't known for killin magpies more so small song birds and they would naturally fly away from
A maggie than have conflict with one
A female on other hand will take them with ease but only if it gets above it

Was it not feeding on the suet balls though?

Monkaa wrote: »

I mentioned it to Dad who said he'd seen the same bird another day at the suet balls feeding away & it had a beak like a woodpecker he thinks?

dodderangler

Didn't read that bit sorry
If go with a Woodcock possibly they do sometime come into contact with people gardens
As you said beak like a woodpecker and reddish wings
Other than that I'm lost

cuddlycavies

He didn't say the bird was feeding on seeds. It's not unusual for a sparrowhawk to storm a feeding area like that oblivious to magpies and go for the small targets such as tits and sparrows.

dodderangler

cuddlycavies wrote: »

He didn't say the bird was feeding on seeds. It's not unusual for a sparrowhawk to storm a feeding area like that oblivious to magpies and go for the small targets such as tits and sparrows.

He said his dad seen the same bird other day eatin away at the seeds? Top post
And a beak like a Woodpecker
So not any bird of prey

Monkaa

I'll double confirm what my dad saw tomorrow & keep an eye out but I generally watch what comes into the garden quite a bit & never saw a bird like it before so it obviously doesn't come by the garden that often unfortunately

Eddie B

I'm going with Jay!!!

Monkaa

pretty sure after watching this video, that it was a Jay...will continue to keep an eye out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Yf1EOjp6tk&feature=related


are they rare in Ireland? Never seen one before myself

Pie Man

They wouldn't be as common as there near cousins the magpies, but its there shyness and woodland habitat thats makes it less lightly to be seen.
http://www.birdwatchireland.ie/IrelandsBirds/Crows/Jay/tabid/1052/Default.aspx