Answers & solutions
Check your answers against our explanations. Remember, as ever, there are no ‘trick’ birds or extreme rarities among those here
BIRD 1
This one, we admit, was more of a spot the bird competition than a typical ID Challenge photo. But that is the nature of reedbeds and a big part of the challenge of birding around them is picking out birds hidden within. If you do see the bird in this photograph, though, the identification should not be too tricky. It is a Bittern and one ‘sky-pointing’ in typical Bittern style, perhaps aware that the photographer is nearby (most likely concealed within a hide). This sort of pose, with the neck outstretched almost vertically, and the bill also pointing upward, is all ‘ designed’ to make the bird blend in with the reeds, matching the colours and pattern of the reed stems. Bittern is the cryptically-patterned, buff, brown and black heron you are like to encounter in a reedbed.
Key features
■ Cryptic plumage
■ Long yet thick neck, stretched vertically upwards
■ Dagger-like bill
■ Bulky, ‘camouflaged’ body
BIRD 2
This is a small bird and a typical perching bird (aka a passerine or songbird), just big enough to bend over the reed stem it is perched on and feeding from (with a bill full of seeds). Though its bill is largely concealed by reed seeds, it does appear to be a typical, ‘ blunt’ seed-eater’s bill, like that of a finch or bunting. The streaky, brown, black and white plumage, including the broadly striped back, point to a bunting rather than a finch. The face is well marked with a darker crown (even a hint of an erectile crest), a striking long and broad pale buff supercilium (‘eyebrow’) and striking submoustachial ( pale) and lateral throat stripes. There are white outer feathers on the medium longish tail and the flanks are streaked in lines. This bird is a female Reed Bunting.
Key features
■ Small, stubby, seedeater’s bill
■ Brown, black and white, streaked bird
■ Complex head pattern, with many stripes
■ White outer tail feathers
BIRD 3
We have zoomed in slightly compared to the photo on the previous page, so you can see a bit more detail on this small bird hanging onto a single reed stem, while hardly bending it. It should not be a difficult bird to identify, having many distinctive and unique features. These include the overall orange-buff colour (of the back, wings, flanks and tail), the long, slightly tapered tail, the white-and-black stripes on the very short wings, the small, tit-like orange bill, and the pale orange iris. The legs are black and the head is pale grey, with a hint of buff on the forehead and a white throat. All of these distinctive features should identify this bird as a Bearded Tit, perhaps an adult female or a young male ( judging by the grey head and hint of dark feathering in front of the eye).
Key features
■ Largely orange-buff, small bird
■ Long, graduated tail
■ Very short wings with contrasting pattern
■ Small, tit-like orange bill, pale eye