Bird ID Please

fred funk }{

This chap has been showing up around the garden over the past week or so. My hunch is he's a juvenile Goldfinch but he looks bigger and not like any pictures of them on Google. Has a striking red face and orange breast.

Stigura

Fred; I reckon what ye've got there is a Goldfinch Mule. That's a Goldfinch crossed with a Canary. People do that for their song. Just so happens I have one myself!

Here he is, my little mate, " Goldie ". There's variation in their exact look. Someone's lost that one.

fred funk }{

Stigura wrote: »

Fred; I reckon what ye've got there is a Goldfinch Mule. That's a Goldfinch crossed with a Canary. People do that for their song. Just so happens I have one myself!

Here he is, my little mate, " Goldie ". There's variation in their exact look. Someone's lost that one.

Hi Stigura,

Yes, possibly but I'm not sure. I have a lot of Goldfinches around the feeders too but as I said earlier, it didn't look like any pictures I found on Google. Nice looking bird all the same.

Mickeroo

I'm almost 100% certain it's a goldfinch based on the red around the face.

corks finest

fred funk }{ wrote: »

This chap has been showing up around the garden over the past week or so. My hunch is he's a juvenile Goldfinch but he looks bigger and not like any pictures of them on Google. Has a striking red face and orange breast.

yes young gf

fred funk }{

Thanks folks.

11James11

As Stigura said its some type of a goldfinch mule I have seen a few before mixed in with other finches they usually have plastic rings on their legs.I wounder how well they survive in the wild ?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

11James11 wrote: »

As Stigura said its some type of a goldfinch mule I have seen a few before mixed in with other finches they usually have plastic rings on their legs.I wounder how well they survive in the wild ?

That bird is a juvenile Goldfinch and definitely not a mule.

11James11

Fernanda Ancient Jaw wrote: »

That bird is a juvenile Goldfinch and definitely not a mule.

No juvenile goldfinch would have such a bright red face so early in the summer .Its a mule

Ulmus

11James11 wrote: »

No juvenile goldfinch would have such a bright red face so early in the summer .Its a mule

I think you're correct. Any young goldfinch I've seen so far at my bird feeder doesn't have the red face.

corks finest

Fernanda Ancient Jaw wrote: »

11James11 wrote: »

As Stigura said its some type of a goldfinch mule I have seen a few before mixed in with other finches they usually have plastic rings on their legs.I wounder how well they survive in the wild ?

That bird is a juvenile Goldfinch and definitely not a mule.

Correct 100 pc I've them in my garden for years until I stopped feeding them( mice)

Pretzill

It would hardly be a mule in the wild? I have lots of goldfinches and that looks like a juvenile to me too - the red face starts coming as they grow, sometimes they can look quite scrappy - but keep an eye out there are probably more mature and other young ones hanging around.

Edit to add: when I say I have lots I mean in my garden - can't abide birds being caged.

Mickeroo

It's a bit of a lottery whether they have the red face or not going by the juvenile's I've seen at my feeder so I wouldn't say it's a definite indication of it being a mule. Wouldn't rule it out either of course!

Snowc

What you have op is a juvenile redpoll ,Srameen I am afraid your wrong

OpenYourEyes

Snowc wrote: »

What you have op is a juvenile redpoll ,Srameen I am afraid your wrong

It is 100% not a juvenile Redpoll.

fred funk }{

Ok. I now definitely have several juvenile Goldfinches around the feeders. They are nothing like the bird in the first post and have little or no red on their heads.

Stigura

I believe " Open Your Eyes " is a Ringer? Ringer would know a Goldfinch, at any stage or gender.

What say you, Open Your Eyes?

Them Coverts say " Goldfinch " to you?

OpenYourEyes

Stigura wrote: »

I believe " Open Your Eyes " is a Ringer? Ringer would know a Goldfinch, at any stage or gender.

What say you, Open Your Eyes?

Them Coverts say " Goldfinch " to you?

Red on the face says adult Goldfinch, rest of the body is very washed out - hard to tell if it's leucism or crossed with something else, but I'd be inclined to suggest the latter!