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Spotted a strange bird and I have no clue what it is

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  • 22-05-2019 9:35am
    #1
    VonVix
    Registered Users Posts: 1,688 ✭✭✭


    Unfortunately I have no photos, he flew off 5 seconds after spotting him. Didn't look like a wild bird native to Ireland, possibly someone's pet or escaped from somewhere?

    It was a small bird, about the size of a Starling. It had long/skinny white tail feathers, longer than its body, the tail feathers were quite 'fluffy' looking rather than smooth like normal feathers.

    It also had long white feathers coming out either side of its head, the same kind of feathers as its tail, long/skinny and fluffy. The head feathers were tucked back and rested against its body, they weren't sticking outward or upward.

    There was no apparent bright colours, the bird looked look it was pale neutral colours. The only colour I'm sure of is the white feathering sticking out of it.

    I've tried explaining this to my other half and he thinks I'm mad. Luckily I wasn't the only one to have seen it, otherwise I might be doubting myself!

    [Dog Training + Behaviour Nerd]



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    #2
    B0jangles
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,951 ✭✭✭B0jangles


    Could it have been a whitefaced/pearl cockatiel whose feathers were messed up after being mobbed by other birds?

    7oDnXfP.jpg


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    #3
    VonVix
    Registered Users Posts: 1,688 ✭✭✭VonVix


    B0jangles wrote: »
    Could it have been a whitefaced/pearl cockatiel whose feathers were messed up after being mobbed by other birds?

    7oDnXfP.jpg

    No, it would have been smaller. The head feathers were nearly the length of the body and were identical to the tail feathers.

    The tail feathers would look sort of like grass stalks, like this but skinnier. Same as the head.
    https://previews.123rf.com/images/design56/design561109/design56110900166/10641176-tropical-grass-seed-stalks-on-white-background.jpg

    [Dog Training + Behaviour Nerd]



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    #4
    Doctors room ghost
    Registered Users Posts: 4,805 ✭✭✭Doctors room ghost


    Was it a small tumbler pigeon


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    #5
    B0jangles
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,951 ✭✭✭B0jangles


    VonVix wrote: »
    No, it would have been smaller. The head feathers were nearly the length of the body and were identical to the tail feathers.

    The tail feathers would look sort of like grass stalks, like this but skinnier. Same as the head.
    https://previews.123rf.com/images/design56/design561109/design56110900166/10641176-tropical-grass-seed-stalks-on-white-background.jpg


    Ok, that sounds really weird, absolutely no idea what that could be. I'm really hoping someone solves your bird mystery now :P


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    #6
    VonVix
    Registered Users Posts: 1,688 ✭✭✭VonVix


    Doctors room ghost wrote: »
    Was it a small tumbler pigeon

    No, some mild similarities in body shape/colouring. But missing the long feathers on the head and tail. And when I say long, the tail was as long as the body and the head feathers were a bit shorter than the length of the body from what I can recall.
    B0jangles wrote: »
    Ok, that sounds really weird, absolutely no idea what that could be. I'm really hoping someone solves your bird mystery now :P

    I know! I have been Googling birds like a mad thing and I haven't even been able to find something similar.

    [Dog Training + Behaviour Nerd]



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    #7
    Doctors room ghost
    Registered Users Posts: 4,805 ✭✭✭Doctors room ghost


    Was it some type of young ornamental pheasant maybe


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    #8
    VonVix
    Registered Users Posts: 1,688 ✭✭✭VonVix


    I have attached a (terrible) drawing of what I saw. Hoping it helps a bit with identification! Again, the feathers sticking out were an off white and it was quite small, about Starling sized.

    [Dog Training + Behaviour Nerd]



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    #9
    ZiabR
    Registered Users Posts: 5,575 ✭✭✭ZiabR


    I highly doubt it, but was it like a Starling Bali?
    What you are describing is certainly not a native or wild bird of Ireland.


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    #10
    VonVix
    Registered Users Posts: 1,688 ✭✭✭VonVix


    ZiabR wrote: »
    I highly doubt it, but was it like a Starling Bali?
    What you are describing is certainly not a native or wild bird of Ireland.

    No, too smooth/lacking the feathering I've mentioned. Gorgeous though.

    That's what has me confused! I've never seen anything like it.

    [Dog Training + Behaviour Nerd]



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    #11
    Mickeroo
    Administrators, Computer Games Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 32,155 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Mickeroo


    Long tailed tit maybe? Maybe if the fluffy feathers were a trick of the light :o


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    #12
    VonVix
    Registered Users Posts: 1,688 ✭✭✭VonVix


    Mickeroo wrote: »
    Long tailed tit maybe? Maybe if the fluffy feathers were a trick of the light :o

    The tail feathers were hanging off the fence it was sitting on (the bird had its back to me) so they were clear enough to see and then it flew behind the tree the fence was next to.

    I know, it sounds really odd! :o

    [Dog Training + Behaviour Nerd]



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    #13
    cd07
    Registered Users Posts: 466 ✭✭cd07


    What you describe sounds almost like a bird of paradise. Unlikely but maybe someone lost a captive one


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    #14
    Boardnashea
    Registered Users Posts: 828 ✭✭✭Boardnashea


    Good sketch. From that I'm saying pheasant but that is probably too big.


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    #15
    Lady Haywire
    Registered Users Posts: 5,181 ✭✭✭Lady Haywire


    Could it have been a little Egret in breeding plumage? Depends on if it had long or short legs I guess!

    Or a pokemon :pac:


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    #16
    jmkennedyie
    Registered Users Posts: 678 ✭✭✭jmkennedyie


    An albino something-or-other? Just for the hell of it: Hoopoe? Odd one ends up in Ireland this time of year.


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    #17
    Day Lewin
    Registered Users Posts: 4,607 ✭✭✭Day Lewin


    Sounds more like a Long-tailed Tit than anything else.
    Google image search?


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    #18
    VonVix
    Registered Users Posts: 1,688 ✭✭✭VonVix


    jmkennedyie wrote: »
    An albino something-or-other? Just for the hell of it: Hoopoe? Odd one ends up in Ireland this time of year.

    And albino-something-or-other is probably the best shout I've seen so far!
    Day Lewin wrote: »
    Sounds more like a Long-tailed Tit than anything else.
    Google image search?

    Way too small, it had a more pigeon shaped body, but more lean.

    [Dog Training + Behaviour Nerd]



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    #19
    Eddie B
    Registered Users Posts: 1,974 ✭✭✭Eddie B


    What about something on this line


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    #20
    Graces7
    Registered Users Posts: 32,634 ✭✭✭✭Graces7


    cd07 wrote: »
    What you describe sounds almost like a bird of paradise. Unlikely but maybe someone lost a captive one

    an escapee sounds much more likely; any photo of that please?


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    #21
    Stop moaning ffs
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 4,850 ✭✭✭Stop moaning ffs


    Hey
    Sorry for jumping in the thread but I have a similar query.
    Two small feeders down the back of the garden in the bushes. Robins blackbirds baby wood pigeons sparrows finches all there regular.
    Then yesterday and once today a weird bird I’d never seen.
    It looks like the size of a blackbird but it’s a weird white and blue markings. Kind of like the bogey Chinese crockery your gran would have. It’s a very vivid blue.
    I’ve tried to get a picture but haven’t been able yet.
    It’s beautiful but looks totally weird. Never seen the likes of it.
    Anyone able to identify?


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    #22
    Mickeroo
    Administrators, Computer Games Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 32,155 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Mickeroo


    Stop moaning ffs wrote: »
    Hey
    Sorry for jumping in the thread but I have a similar query.
    Two small feeders down the back of the garden in the bushes. Robins blackbirds baby wood pigeons sparrows finches all there regular.
    Then yesterday and once today a weird bird I’d never seen.
    It looks like the size of a blackbird but it’s a weird white and blue markings. Kind of like the bogey Chinese crockery your gran would have. It’s a very vivid blue.
    I’ve tried to get a picture but haven’t been able yet.
    It’s beautiful but looks totally weird. Never seen the likes of it.
    Anyone able to identify?

    A Jay maybe?


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    #23
    B0jangles
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,951 ✭✭✭B0jangles


    Stop moaning ffs wrote: »
    Hey
    Sorry for jumping in the thread but I have a similar query.
    Two small feeders down the back of the garden in the bushes. Robins blackbirds baby wood pigeons sparrows finches all there regular.
    Then yesterday and once today a weird bird I’d never seen.
    It looks like the size of a blackbird but it’s a weird white and blue markings. Kind of like the bogey Chinese crockery your gran would have. It’s a very vivid blue.
    I’ve tried to get a picture but haven’t been able yet.
    It’s beautiful but looks totally weird. Never seen the likes of it.
    Anyone able to identify?


    Weirdly, I saw something similar a few days ago and was told by another person there that it was a blackbird, but with leucism, which is when they have partially missing pigmentation. The one I saw was white with dark grey/charcoal feathers, definitely not blue though.


    Q9O8xmO.jpg
    edit: not my picture, just one that looks a lot like the bird I saw


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    #24
    Stop moaning ffs
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 4,850 ✭✭✭Stop moaning ffs


    B0jangles wrote: »
    Weirdly, I saw something similar a few days ago and was told by another person there that it was a blackbird, but with leucism, which is when they have partially missing pigmentation. The one I saw was white with dark grey/charcoal feathers, definitely not blue though.


    Q9O8xmO.jpg
    edit: not my picture, just one that looks a lot like the bird I saw


    Wow!! It’s almost identical to this but really vivid blue markings over the white

    This makes sense it’s probbaly the same condition.

    Thank you :)

    If it could be something else I’d be still interested. Never seen a bird like it.
    But your explanation sounds right.


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    #25
    B0jangles
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,951 ✭✭✭B0jangles


    Cool! With any luck if it really is a leucistic blackbird it'll live nearby and visit your feeders regularly so hopefully you'll get a second look :)


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    #26
    Stop moaning ffs
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 4,850 ✭✭✭Stop moaning ffs


    It’s been gas watching them. I only put out the feeders in a few months ago cos we have two small robins constantly. Now there’s loads and loads coming in.
    Made me wonder do they follow each other to find all the best food spots. All come similar times in the day too.
    Does be killings among them trying to get their shot on the feeders but it’s lovely watching them.


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    #27
    B0jangles
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,951 ✭✭✭B0jangles


    Ah bird feeders are brilliant - you start recognising specific birds and they recognise you too. We've a few pairs of robins that have tiny punch-ups all the time to decide whose turn it is to get some food :D


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    #28
    viper123
    Registered Users Posts: 519 ✭✭✭viper123


    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoopoe


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    #29
    Stop moaning ffs
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 4,850 ✭✭✭Stop moaning ffs


    B0jangles wrote: »
    Ah bird feeders are brilliant - you start recognising specific birds and they recognise you too. We've a few pairs of robins that have tiny punch-ups all the time to decide whose turn it is to get some food :D

    The two robins and presumably their kids have been here for about 8 years.
    No fear of coming into the house. At all.
    One of them ‘died’ in the dining room and my dog was sniffing him. I came back with a tea towel to take take him out to the garden and he popped up and flew off.
    Crafty little devils:) one got up as far as my bedroom once. (Backdoor is always open in the warm months.) happily takes food out of my hand
    They’re brilliant.


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    #30
    corks finest
    Registered Users Posts: 8,636 ✭✭✭corks finest


    Stop moaning ffs wrote: »
    B0jangles wrote: »
    Ah bird feeders are brilliant - you start recognising specific birds and they recognise you too. We've a few pairs of robins that have tiny punch-ups all the time to decide whose turn it is to get some food :D

    The two robins and presumably their kids have been here for about 8 years.
    No fear of coming into the house. At all.
    One of them ‘died’ in the dining room and my dog was sniffing him. I came back with a tea towel to take take him out to the garden and he popped up and flew off.
    Crafty little devils:) one got up as far as my bedroom once. (Backdoor is always open in the warm months.) happily takes food out of my hand
    They’re brilliant.
    Robin's AFAIK don't last more than 3/4 years


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    #31
    measurement
    Registered Users Posts: 147 ✭✭measurement


    cd07 wrote: »
    What you describe sounds almost like a bird of paradise. Unlikely but maybe someone lost a captive one
    I did a Google search for the image, and guess what..... OP seems to have been right first time😄
    https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.pinterest.ie/pin/363595369889602880/&ved=2ahUKEwjvzLCyyIzjAhUTHcAKHdtzDWUQFjAAegQIAxAD&usg=AOvVaw0cwdjyST-ElBXGIQoneEbf


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