ID please, Brown head, black body, Limerick, Ireland (1 Viewer)

[nickytl]

Hello,
I was just wondering if anyone could identify this fellow. He was pecking around in the garden last week. Ive never seen a brown headed blackbird before so was curious as to what he (or she) may be.
Many thanks,
Nick

 

[delia todd]

Hi Nick and welcome to Birdforum.

This looks like a juvenile Blackbird moulting into male adult plumage. I've never seen one with quite such a clear demarcation between the head and body though.

D

 

[Jeff Hopkins]

The Europeans may correct me, but that bird looks pretty good for brown-headed cowbird, a North American species.

 

[james holdsworth]

The Europeans may correct me, but that bird looks pretty good for brown-headed cowbird, a North American species.

My 1st thought as well but the photo's seem to show a bill and tail too long for BH Cowbird, more of a Turdus shape, I think.

 

[Jeff Hopkins]

Yeah, I wasn't 100% sure either.

I've never seen a blackbird with that sharp a demarcation either, and I thought the bill looked sharp and icterid-like in photo #1. The body color is not exactly right for cowbird either, so I'll be willing to go with Occam's razor and say blackbird.

 

[billsbirding]

You have a blackbird :t:

 

[Peter C.]

Thumbnails gave me quite a start too! But inspecting the full-size images (as James points out), shape of bill is all wrong for a cowbird. I can easily see, however, how a bird like this (for those of us not really familiar with European birds) could lead to a perfectly innocent mis-identification.

Vocalizations would give it away PDQ, I imagine, though. Not much in common there!

 

[Jonny721]

I suspect a Blackbird with slightly strange plumage. The structure is perfect for Blackbird and even Brown Headed Cowbrd doesn't have that change in colour

 

[HH75]

Hi all,
This is a 1st-w male Blackbird, the wings and head are retained juvenile feathers, the rest of the body plumage has been moulted in the post-juvenile moult. As stated above, Brown-headed Cowbird would have a thicker bill and shorter tail.

 

[nickytl]

Hi,
Blackbird it is so. Thanks for the info.
N

 

[Kiwitwitcher]

Here's my Irish siting of same bird, but possibly even more strikingly deliminated between brown and black. Carlow 1 Aug 20w2

 

[delia todd]

Hi Kiwitwitcher and a warm welcome to you from all the Staff and Moderators. Yes, indeed. This is an old thread, and since then I've seen many more young Blackbirds, they do vary quite a bit in the pattern of their moult. One thing though, it seems to be the head that is always last to complete the transition.

I'm sure you will enjoy it here and I look forward to hearing your news.

​

 

[KC Foggin]

Hi there Kiwitwitcher and a warm welcome to you!
We're glad you found us and please join in wherever you like.

 

[MacNara]

Maybe it's just been swimming in Guinness?

 

[Andy Strachan]

I also had a blackbird almost exactly like this yesterday in the garden, here in North East Scotland.