Your Questions
Is this a Dunnock?
QCan you help put a species name to my mystery bird, please, photographed at Attenborough Nature Reserve, Nottinghamshire. As it faced away from me, I thought ‘Dunnock’, as I only glimpsed the back feathers. When it hopped to another branch and faced me, I got the full frontal shot.the extra long tail is not helping in trying to determine what it is. There’s a very faint supercilium so maybe we lean towards a juvenile? I’m stuck, please help.
Doug Bottrell
AYour initial instinct was correct, Doug; your bird is indeed a Dunnock (the classic Q&A ID puzzler). It has that classic ‘Robin in sparrow’s clothing’ look about it, with predominantly grey underparts with streaked flanks and streaked brown upperparts. Dunnocks have medium length tails, and perhaps the tip being concealed behind a leaf gives a slight illusion that it is longer than it really is.
ID the bird, please
QI would like to know what this bird is: Linnet or redpoll? I took this picture at Foulshaw Moss Cumbria Wildlife Trust reserve. Thank you. Robert Morsby
A
Your photo shows a Lesser Redpoll, Robert. The red forecrown, black ‘bib’ and black lores (area in front of the eye) point to it being a redpoll species. The delicate streaked brown/buff plumage and buff wing-bars make it a Lesser (the main species found in the UK). It doesn’t have a red breast, so is probably not an adult male (so it is a female or an immature bird).
Which duck species?
QThere were three of these ducks in a pool at Knypersley Reservoir, Staffordshire, together with a Goosander. I cannot find a match in any of my books. Can you help me, please?
Patricia Mills
AThe bird in your photo is a female Goosander. The long grey body, reddish brown head and long, hook-tipped red bill are distinctive. Only a female-type Red-breasted Merganser could
cause confusion, but they are less neat, have thinner bills and lack the distinct junction between the red-brown head and the pale neck (in the Red-breasted Merganser, the transition is more gradual).
What’s this bird?
QMy friend took this photo of a dead bird in Canley, Coventry and I was hoping you could ID it for us. I think it’s a Woodcock, although Snipe and Jack Snipe have also been suggested.
Guy Rawson
AThis sad sight is a dead Woodcock. The heavily barred and richly coloured plumage are unique to this lovely wader (snipes are altogether more longitudinally striped and less chestnut in tone).
Name the finch
QThis finch-like bird has visited my garden the last two winters. Any suggestions as to its variety?
Dave Backhouse
AYour bird is a male Chaffinch, Dave. However, it has some curious white patches, which are probably from a slight genetic mutation causing a sort of patchy albinism or schizochroism.
What’s this,please?
QCan you please confirm the identity of the bird in the reeds, please; and also if the gull is a juvenile Black-headed Gull as its beak and legs were much paler than usual. Both were at Titchfield Haven.
Lin (by email)
AThe little bird in the reeds looks like a Chiffchaff (short wings, broken eye-ring etc) and the gull looks to be a very typical first-winter Black-headed Gull. In that species, the legs of immature birds are paler than those of full adults.
Australian bird ID
QOn a recent visit to the Bunya Mountains, Queensland Australia where we saw some spectacular birds, this bird came into the garden where we were staying. My brother thought it might be a Paradise Riflebird though I’m not convinced. It looks a bit like a Blackbird. Can you please identify it for us?
Elizabeth Helm
AWow! This one took a bit of research, Elizabeth, as it did not immediately jump to mind, nor did it jump off the page when we went through our Australian bird books! But, I think we got there in the end. We think it is an immature male Regent Bowerbird, sharing characteristics of the scaly female with the pale eyed, pale-billed adult male (which in full plumage is a spectacular black and gold bird). Regent Bowerbirds live in a strip from the east of northern New South Wales to the east of northern Queensland.