Need help (1 Viewer)

[Mouette rieuse]

Hi
I am fairly new to bird watching.
This came in my garden this morning and was with me for about 10 minutes. Could someone let me know what it is ? Sorry about the photo quality.
Thank you

 

[emc]

Welcome to the forum, that is an odd bird, maybe someone here will recognize it

 

[Kits]

Welcome to Birdforum. It looks a bit like a blackbird to me.

 

[Lisa W]

Hi, and welcome to the forum on behalf of the staff and moderators. I think you will find us a friendly and helpful group.

I’m moving this to the ID forum where you will get more responses.

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello,

welcome to Birdforum!

I agree with Kits, its a Blackbird.
The buffish tips to the greater coverts are juvenile feathers, so I think this must be a moulting juvenile bird.

 

[delia todd]

Hi Mouette and a warm welcome to you from all the Staff and Moderators. Yes, it's a Blackbird, as Alexander says, probably a juvenile and I think maybe a male, as he seems to have some very dark feathers in the wings, which are the first to change.

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

 

[Mouette rieuse]

Hi, and welcome to the forum on behalf of the staff and moderators. I think you will find us a friendly and helpful group.

I’m moving this to the ID forum where you will get more responses.

Thank you Lisa

 

[Derbyfella]

Looks like female blackbird to me

 

[Southern Viking]

Definitely Blackbird but likely a moulting juvenile male considering some of the black retrices coming through

 

[Mouette rieuse]

He did look a bit scruffy and unaware of dangers around him (nextdoor's cats). A juvenile would explain it

 

[Butty]

Welcome to BF. I'm assuming this is somewhere in Europe (UK?), as it's important always to know the location for an ID query.

some very dark feathers in the wings, which are the first to change

black retrices coming through

Actually it's the other way round... in that, after fledging, the flight-feathers and tail aren't moulted until autumn of the following year - so those feathers are adult(ish) colour from the outset, and juveniles can be sexed on that basis. Thus, here, because of the contrastingly-darker flight-feathers and tail (and date), this blackbird is a fresh (unmoulted) juvenile male.

 

[Mouette rieuse]

Welcome to BF. I'm assuming this is somewhere in Europe (UK?), as it's important always to know the location for an ID query.


Actually it's the other way round... in that, after fledging, the flight-feathers and tail aren't moulted until autumn of the following year - so those feathers are adult(ish) colour from the outset, and juveniles can be sexed on that basis. Thus, here, because of the contrastingly-darker flight-feathers and tail (and date), this blackbird is a fresh (unmoulted) juvenile male.

Thank you so much, Butty! The photo was taken in the UK. I hope to see him again around the garden 🐦