Bird ID

trebor28

I was in my vehicle on the outskirts of town parked up on the side of the road on the phone.

In front of me was a sizable tree and at the top of it i saw this bird.
I could only see a silhouette so couldn't make out any colours but it looked to me what i can only describe as a giant long tailed tit.
It was about the size of a greenfinch but with a rounded body and head like that of a long tailed tit and it also had the long tail about the same length as its body.

I went looking on the rspb website and the only bird i could say it looked like from the site is the Bearded Tit.

Now im not saying that's what i saw, as i have never seen one so dont know what size they are but from the shape and tail length etc thats what it looked like.

Anybody have any ideas?

OpenYourEyes

To be honest, given the very tiny population of Bearded Reedlings/Tits in Ireland we can probably rule that out straight away. They're probably not far off Long Tailed Tits in terms of size, but LTT are infinitely more common and widespread in Ireland.

The only birds in Ireland with long tails in Ireland that come to mind are LTT, Bearded Tit (both likely to be travelling in small flocks at this time of year), and the wagtails (pied wagtails likely to be in groups in the evenings when they're roosting).

All of those birds are of fairly similar size i.e. small. The only other long-tailed bird I can think of that'd be in a tree is a Magpie, but from your description that might be too big?


You didn't happen to hear it calling or see if there was more than one?
Worth checking the same tree at a similar time of day next chance you get.

Capercaille

Bearded tit only really found in south east Wexford in coastal extensive reedbeds. Probably long tailed tit, In poor light might have seemed bigger.

jmkennedyie

Pied wagtail would have the long tail. Jay also comes to mind but that's bordering magpie size

Tiercel Dave

Hi Trebor, one thing worth noting is the fact that you saw a 'silhouette'. If the sun was behind the bird every feather etc is exaggerated and it can appear to be an enormous specimen. If the same bird is seen in 'full sun' the finer outline is lost and so appears to look smaller.
Don't know if that's much help but it comes from personal experience of shooting 'hugh' Pheasants late in the evening! Dave

trebor28

Right so just to clear some things up. this bird in total length was about the length of a blackbird, but with a big round body. a very long distinctive tail, which was what first caught my eye and made me curious.

It was a dull overcast day so when i say it was a silhouette it was just a dark bird against a dull grey sky so was hard to make out any colours.

It wasnt a Jay as its quite a public area of the town and of my experience of Jays in Ireland is that they would not be that close to a built up area, down here at least. also the size wouldnt fit, too big.

As i said it wouldnt have been a giant long tailed tit, that or the long tailed tits that i see every other day around me are a miniturised version.

I have to keep an eye out for it again.