BIRD 4

If you thought the previous challenge photos were tough, then you could take this one of two ways: relief, that you can see a fair amount of this individual (particularly the face end); or horror that this is just about as nondescript as birds get. But even nondescript birds reveal key features, even when bathing! The overall proportions are those of a small bird, with a relatively large head of a small bird (see Bird 3). The very little, triangular bill is that of a seedeater, particularly looking to be a small-billed finch. In fact, of the small, drab seedeaters, this bird’s bill is even smaller than that of something like a sparrow. The bill is yellowish and the face is plain and buffy-brown with a hint of a pale eye-ring, but no dark bib and no red on the forehead; this is a Twite.

Key features

Finch-like shape

Tiny yellow bill, no black bill

Plain plumage

Hint of ‘peachy’ tone in face