Juvenile Finch? Malta now. (1 Viewer)

[markm]

In with a flock of gold finches. This was bigger.

 

[Butty]

Hi - it's much much better if you can post the photo rather than a photo of the photo on a screen?
I guess maybe common rosefinch, but on Malta it might be as as likely to be something out of a cage?

 

[markm]

Sorry about the quality of the photo. I'm actually on Ghadira nature reserve at the moment.

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[PYRTLE]

Heck of a hefty and pinkish bill. Young Crimson - Winged or Trumpeter

 

[Butty]

43 years since I was there...

 

[Butty]

Young Crimson - Winged or Trumpeter

Bill indeed looks big - but plumage is very wrong for juvenile of both of those.

 

[Joern Lehmhus]

I think the bird is in a very bad condition, for example having lost a lot of feathers at thebase of the bill and close to the eye, so the impression of a large bill may be deceiving;

if so I would think of something like canary or linnet?

 

[Nukka]

I think the bird is in a very bad condition, for example having lost a lot of feathers at thebase of the bill and close to the eye, so the impression of a large bill may be deceiving;

if so I would think of something like canary or linnet?

Canaries in Malta?

 

[markm]

Had a chat with the young lady volunteering at the reserve and they have released a " load" of illegally trapped finches in the last couple of days. Mostly gold ,green and serins. She thinks they were trapped in Sicily but recovered on Gozo. Nice reserve . Only our first full day on Malta but little evidence of hunting. Just a few distant guns. Very different from 10 years ago!
Thanks for the IDs.

 

[Nukka]

could it be a Serin?

 

[Joern Lehmhus]

the ground color looks too reddish brown. but the photo is too reddish brown anyway (see green plant parts)
- so yes -it could be indeed well be a serin:

https://c8.alamy.com/compde/ebpy89/girlitz-serinus-serinus-jungvogel-sitzt-auf-hauswurz-deutschland-ebpy89.jpg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2b/European_serin_%28Serinus_serinus%29_female.jpg

however - I can´fully exclude an exotic or a domestic canary... (and a serin wouldn´t be any larger than goldfinches...)

 

[Nukka]

the ground color looks too reddish brown. but the photo is too reddish brown anyway (see green plant parts)
- so yes -it could be indeed well be a serin:

https://c8.alamy.com/compde/ebpy89/girlitz-serinus-serinus-jungvogel-sitzt-auf-hauswurz-deutschland-ebpy89.jpg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2b/European_serin_%28Serinus_serinus%29_female.jpg

however - I can´fully exclude an exotic or a domestic canary... (and a serin wouldn´t be any larger than goldfinches...)

Hopefully he updates the photo when he gets home.

 

[markm]

I've survived Malta ! more shooting audible later in holiday.
So here is the cropped photo , although as I said it's probable a released/trapped bird .
Also is the raptor a juvenile honey buzzard?

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello,
yes it is a Honey buzzard, I think the right tail pattern is enough here

 

[markm]

Thanks for the confirmation.

 

[Joern Lehmhus]

yes for the HB, for the finch I think a young serin , which has lost a lot of feathers in he front of the head

 

[markm]

yes for the HB, for the finch I think a young serin , which has lost a lot of feathers in he front of the head

Thanks for the IDs , serin looks a good call.