Mystery Garden Bird (1 Viewer)

[Jynx]

Hi folks
I have had these photos sent to me of this bird visiting a local feeder (UK) and frankly I'm stumped. Any ideas would be welcome.

 

[Larry Sweetland]

I reckon it's Either a Canary with odd plumage due to it being an odd breed, or a Canary X something hybrid, or an African Serinus species. Prob one of the first two.

 

[Ruby]

Not sure if this is the full story, but it's more than a little Goldfinch-y....

 

[Jynx]

Not sure if this is the full story, but it's more than a little Goldfinch-y....

I have had GreenfinchXGoldfinch suggested, but how rare is that. I've never seen one in 30 years birding.

 

[Jane Turner]

Goldfinch x greenfinch is my best guess. Extremely rare in the wild, but breeders are always doing unspeakable things with birds.

 

[Larry Sweetland]

The ups look pretty streaky on my monitor, and the unds very yellow. Wouldn't this point to something other than just a wild British Greenfinch X Goldfinch hybrid ?

 

[bristolbirder]

A very similar looking bird recently featured in BTO's Bird Table magazine. It was thought to be a "mule" which is a cross between a Canary and Goldfinch.

Steve

 

[KnockerNorton]

It's a Canary x Goldfinch, known as a 'mule' in the birdkeeping trade. Canary hybrids with british finches are common, and they're selectively bred that way for exhibition. This one may have escaped or simply been turfed out if it didn't make the exhibition grade - they're infertile so there's no point in keeping them as you can't breed from them.

 

[Dave Hall]

Hi It does look like a "mule" as already said CanaryXGoldfinch would be my guess as well When I used to keep cage birds over 20 years ago now I could never see the point of Hybreds/Mules British finches are good enough without messing around with them

 

[sychohill]

This is most certainly a goldfinch x Norwich canary (mule) the red on the face, and tapering beak say it all. I cant see a ring on its leg so it may have been set free due to breeder forgetting to ring it as a chick (no ring - cant show/sell). You can tell its a goldfinch mule from the distinct yellow markings at the base of its wing. Its definitely not a Greenfinch cross as carries no Greenfinch characteristics whatsoever.

P.S.
Breeders breed mules and hybrids to try and start a new species and to try and create the ultimate singing bird. I do agree with above that British finches are excellent on their own, but whats up with messin about a bit to get something really special?

 

[Farnboro John]

P.S. Breeders breed mules and hybrids to try and start a new species and to try and create the ultimate singing bird. I do agree with above that British finches are excellent on their own, but whats up with messin about a bit to get something really special?

Ever read Day of the Triffids?

John

 

[sychohill]

Ever read Day of the Triffids?

John

Day of the Triffids is fiction John!

 

[njlarsen]

This is most certainly a goldfinch x Norwich canary (mule) the red on the face, and tapering beak say it all. I cant see a ring on its leg so it may have been set free due to breeder forgetting to ring it as a chick (no ring - cant show/sell). You can tell its a goldfinch mule from the distinct yellow markings at the base of its wing. Its definitely not a Greenfinch cross as carries no Greenfinch characteristics whatsoever.

P.S.
Breeders breed mules and hybrids to try and start a new species and to try and create the ultimate singing bird. I do agree with above that British finches are excellent on their own, but whats up with messin about a bit to get something really special?

What is wrong is having the poor birds in a cage in the first place :C

Niels

 

[sychohill]

What is wrong is having the poor birds in a cage in the first place :C

Niels

My birds are in an aviary. And live for five / six years, as opposed to one or two in the wild. So poor birds they are not!!!

 

[Original PaulE]

My birds are in an aviary. And live for five / six years, as opposed to one or two in the wild. So poor birds they are not!!!

better two flying free than six in prison

 

[HH75]

P.S.
Breeders breed mules and hybrids to try and start a new species and to try and create the ultimate singing bird. I do agree with above that British finches are excellent on their own, but whats up with messin about a bit to get something really special?

As mules are infertile, I should imagine that it would prove to be ever so slightly difficult to give rise to a 'new species' by breeding them...?

 

[Gentoo]

It's a Canary x Goldfinch, known as a 'mule' in the birdkeeping trade. Canary hybrids with british finches are common, and they're selectively bred that way for exhibition. This one may have escaped or simply been turfed out if it didn't make the exhibition grade - they're infertile so there's no point in keeping them as you can't breed from them.

Not necessarily true at all! Red Factor canaries were developed by crossing canaries with Red Siskins (Carduelis cucullata), and then crossing these hybrids back with canaries. After the fourth generation there are again identical to canaries only at that point they now have red plumage.

Fertile Canary hybrids have been produced with Goldfinches (both European and American) and a few other species. Personally I don't believe it hybridizing birds even though I was once a breeder of these very same types of birds.

 

[Gentoo]

My birds are in an aviary. And live for five / six years, as opposed to one or two in the wild. So poor birds they are not!!!

Some canaries, greenfinches and serins have lived 15 years or more so I would certainly have to agree with you on this.