Bird Identification please (1 Viewer)

Kratter said:

The only similar New World sparrow is Seaside Sparrow, which would be very unexpected (only a short distance migrant and restricted to coastal salt marshes north to Massachusetts). I was thinking that that it must be a Old World bird, but it really does look good for Seaside Sparrow, however unlikely.

Andy.

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DavidC said:

I recently did a cruise around Iceland and got notified of this bird on one of the balconies. It appeared to have been with us a while and was receiving regular hand outs of food. It moved from one balcony to another and carried on getting fed, seems as if the new people were putting out grapes and cheese.

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Bismarck Honeyeater said:

Hi David,

This would be the first Western Palearctic record of Seaside Sparrow. Could you please give any information as to where the boat originated, route, date bird first seen and whereabouts the boat was whilst the bird was being seen.

Many thanks[/QUOTE

Feet look in poor condition. Possibly spent some time in captivity

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Garden birder said:

Bismarck Honeyeater said:

Hi David,

This would be the first Western Palearctic record of Seaside Sparrow. Could you please give any information as to where the boat originated, route, date bird first seen and whereabouts the boat was whilst the bird was being seen.

Many thanks[/QUOTE

Feet look in poor condition. Possibly spent some time in captivity

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You should see my feet, and I've never been in captivity.

Seriously, it's just gunk, sand, food covering the feet. The likelihood of a captive Seaside Sparrow landing on a boat off Iceland must be much less than a genuinely wild bird getting on board in dock off the East coast of the US, I would have thought

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DavidC said:

It was aboard the Balmoral sailing from Newcastle on 31st May, before this the ship had done 2 cruises In Norway from the 21st May to the 31st, and before this it had done a USA cruise that was from the 16th April to the 21st May... But not sure which ports, trying to find out.
The bird did seem pretty tame or sick, you could get within 8ft to photograph, and the people said that it would hop in their door if the balcony door was left open. this could of been for warmth as it did get quite cold. The bird definitely had a two tone bill and a white chin that does not seem to come out well in photographs.

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Bismarck Honeyeater said:

Garden birder said:

You should see my feet, and I've never been in captivity.

Seriously, it's just gunk, sand, food covering the feet. The likelihood of a captive Seaside Sparrow landing on a boat off Iceland must be much less than a genuinely wild bird getting on board in dock off the East coast of the US, I would have thought

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Agree that the bird has some debris sticking to the feet, but the longer than normal looking claws (albeit without knowing the species) and the way the toes seem to be unnaturally twisted (the bird's left foot in the middle photo in # 10) does suggest that a still moderately developed case of papilloma virus could perhaps be the reason.

http://birdsdk.blogspot.dk/2014/05/papillomavirus-hos-bogfinke.html

Peter

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DavidC said:

.... from Newcastle on 31st May, ....

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