ID Required for Albino Bird - Culver Down, Isle of Wight, UK (1 Viewer)

[traceyj]

Saw this bird this morning at Culver Down, Isle of Wight UK. Size was between a Robin and a Nightingale. Bird highly secretive and always few directly into the centre of a very thick bush - would stay for some time prior to moving to the next thick bush (this obviously could be due to the colour of the bird). Please note that Picture 3 was the only time it sat in a tree being visible and that was not for long. At no time did it call.

Any ideas regarding what this bird could be?

 

[THE_FERN]

Perhaps leucistic chaffinch. Certainly a leucistic form of some common species.

 

[01101001]

Can a chaffinch have so thin a bill?

EDIT: With the small round head, beady eye and lowered tail, could it be a wagtail?

 

[THE_FERN]

Can a chaffinch have so thin a bill?

I don't see it as particularly thin, although it's difficult to be sure with these photos. It's clearly more triangular than [say] chiffchaff. House sparrow would be chunkier.

 

[01101001]

It looks thin in pic 3; it looks as though it might be open in pic 4 (maybe also in pic 1, but I may misconstrue that one). The question is how much of the bill, if anything, is obscured by the vegetation in pic 2.

 

[foresttwitcher]

I can't pin down why but something is making me think Blackcap perhaps.

 

[THE_FERN]

I can't pin down why but something is making me think Blackcap perhaps.

Could be. (We know they're prone to melanism). The forensic could figure it with careful reference to wing formula, shape

 

[Richard D]

I can't pin down why but something is making me think Blackcap perhaps.

Bill does look possible for Blackcap - I think you've hit on a strong possibility.

 

[traceyj]

Thanks for your input - at this end we are starting to lean towards Blackcap as a couple of you are - still awaiting further responses so I will let you know how we get on. Obviously open to other ideas - but Blackcap currently a strong contender

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello,

like 01101001, I noticed the lowered tail (and I got a Robin-vibe just from picture 3), but after looking at all pictures, can it be a Great Tit?

Yes, its unusual for a Great Tit to be silent over a (presumed?) longer time, but if its indde one, maybe the reason why it has survived despite its white plumage?

But I am puzzled, assuming its a common bird, why makes the white plumage this such a hard bird? Yes, it could be a Blackcap.

 

[Butty]

Dunnock? - conical bill.
Chastening to discover how very difficult it is is not just to pin a bird down on shape/structure alone but even difficult merely to exclude some groups as possibilities.

 

[KenM]

The posture and proportions (eye/bill to head ratio) in Image 3 looks about right for Robin imo.

 

[birdboybowley]

Think I'd go Robin route too.....

 

[KC Foggin]

I have no idea on what bird it is but I sure am anxious to find out what it is. Nice images BTW!

 

[Mike Crawley]

I got a leucistic Blackbird vibe but astonished that the combined wisdom is a tad baffled

 

[THE_FERN]

Should be easy enough for all you with that European birds in flight book (must have the shapes)