ID this bird please: This little fellow popped into my garden this afternoon. On the ground hopping around in amongst plants and shrubs. Didn't fly off even though I was in view taking...

Izza1967 Loc: Bristol, England

This little fellow popped into my garden this afternoon. On the ground hopping around in amongst plants and shrubs. Didn't fly off even though I was in view taking it's photo :)

I have my idea of what it is but certain things aren't right like the beak colour is pinkish not darker.

Thanks in advance

Joe F.N. Loc: Oshawa, Ontario

It certainly looks like a Vireo but the bird being in the UK I wouldn't guess at which Vireo it is. What do you think it is?

Izza1967 Loc: Bristol, England

My first thought was a wren, but it isn't speckled enough so maybe it's a garden warbler but I know very little about this subject so am probably wrong :)

I live in the South West of England in an area of high population. I regularly get blue and great tits, gold finches, sparrows, starlings, blackbirds, doves, robins and a dunnock.

Joe F.N. Loc: Oshawa, Ontario

Izza1967 wrote:

My first thought was a wren, but it isn't speckled enough so maybe it's a garden warbler but I know very little about this subject so am probably wrong :)

I live in the South West of England in an area of high population. I regularly get blue and great tits, gold finches, sparrows, starlings, blackbirds, doves, robins and a dunnock.

What I'm sure of is that it's neither a Wren nor a Warbler. It's definitely in the Vireo family.

Izza1967 Loc: Bristol, England

See I told you I know very little about garden birds ;)

I am now looking up the vireo family as I haven't even heard of them so thanks for the guidance.

Izza1967 Loc: Bristol, England

What about the Chiffchaff?

I didn't realise how similar, differently named birds could be.

marquis1955 Loc: Lometa, TX

Finch ?

treslek Loc: London

It,s a female dunnock as far as I can make out ,the dunnock is normally a hedge dweller they love forging around in hedgerows they flitter round on the ground fast ,nice to see one thank you for sharing .

Izza1967 Loc: Bristol, England

marquis1955 wrote:

Finch ?

Thanks for looking but finches have much stubbier beaks.

davids999 Loc: Edinburgh, UK

I tend to agree with treslek, a female Dunnock.

Izza1967 Loc: Bristol, England

We did have a Dunnock in our garden last Autumn so they are around here.

This is the shot I got showing a much darker and speckled plumage so I assume it's a male.

I don't seem to be able to find an image of a female Dunnock can you help out as the only ones I have seen are like this dark brown one below.

rlaugh Loc: Michigan & Florida

Nice shots!

davids999 Loc: Edinburgh, UK

Izza1967 wrote:

We did have a Dunnock in our garden last Autumn so they are around here.

This is the shot I got showing a much darker and speckled plumage so I assume it's a male.

I don't seem to be able to find an image of a female Dunnock can you help out as the only ones I have seen are like this dark brown one below.

Hi Izza1967

I was looking primarily at the light stripe on the side of the head at the eye. Reading on various sites they seem to be in agreement that there is little colour difference between male and female so possibly it is indeed another species.

davids999 Loc: Edinburgh, UK

Hi Izza1967

It could of course have a plummage abnormality. Here is a link to an RSBP gallery: http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/gbw/about/background/projects/plumage/gallery

There are two Robins from Cumbria and a Dunnock from Powys that are not dissimilar in body shape.

treslek Loc: London

Actually his beak is a bit odd for a dunnock it looks quiet longish and also very pinkish ,it is how ever possible it,s a fairly youngish dunnock but that beak has me puzzled it,s also possible it,s a fairly young finch is it me or does it have a pale greenish plummage? (I like my ish words lol) a dunnock normally has a shorter dumpy beak very similar to a sparrows beak.