What is this bird? random shot capture

dan_yell

dan_yell

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I took this as a test shot back in June when there was a fox visiting the garden often and this sparrow has an orange head and I've never seen that before.

I googled it and found very little information really - one web page saying its a orange crested sparrow and they're not normally found here, only in America & it sent the bird world into a frenzy when they were spotted + then a forum where someone asked about them and someone else basically told them they were an idiot, that the species didn't exist and its just a sparrow with pollen on it's head, so that wasn't very helpful. (not on board with the pollen thing)

Anyone have any clues?

4N0A9948.jpg4N0A9947.jpg
 
I think it's a lesser Redpoll - can't really tell from the picture.

A linnet also has a red head, but I don't think it's one of those.
 
I don't know, the plumage does look like a Sparrow - however birds do get pollen on their faces/heads, it's often seen on Blue Tits.
 
Hmm, it doesnt look like either of those when i compare. this head is def orange, those are both more red. unless there are seasonal variation to the colour?

it was amongst all normal (well to my eye) sparrows, and didn't see it again!

(this was in reference to the Sky's reply)
 
Last edited:
gramps said:
I don't know, the plumage does look like a Sparrow - however birds do get pollen on their faces/heads, it's often seen on Blue Tits.
Click to expand...

it looks just like a sparrow, but with an orange head! the pollen theory, to me, it's seemed too uniform to be the result of that.

this is one of the few photos/references I found and to me it looks just like this orange crested sparrow - but it seems it shouldn't be there really. Tourist season? :)

Orange-crowned Sparrow: A First for Arran and for the UK - Arran Birding

www.arranbirding.co.uk
 
dan_yell said:
it looks just like a sparrow, but with an orange head! the pollen theory, to me, it's seemed too uniform to be the result of that.

this is one of the few photos/references I found and to me it looks just like this orange crested sparrow - but it seems it shouldn't be there really. Tourist season? :)

Orange-crowned Sparrow: A First for Arran and for the UK - Arran Birding

www.arranbirding.co.uk
Click to expand...
Could be of course, all sorts of new occurrences with global warming!
In the first of those photos the bird appears to have orange smudges on its cheek and its bill.
 
i think its just so similar to the photo on that link that i struggle with the pollen theory. i wish it had come back so i could try and take a better photo as i wasn't really looking at what i was doing.
 
dan_yell said:
it looks just like a sparrow, but with an orange head! the pollen theory, to me, it's seemed too uniform to be the result of that.

this is one of the few photos/references I found and to me it looks just like this orange crested sparrow - but it seems it shouldn't be there really. Tourist season? :)

Orange-crowned Sparrow: A First for Arran and for the UK - Arran Birding

www.arranbirding.co.uk
Click to expand...
I did note in that article "The photographs taken at Frailloop Cottage on 1 April 2017 were submitted to the British Rarities Committee for ratification of this remarkable record not only for Arran but for the UK and Ireland."
 
Bodian said:
I did note in that article "The photographs taken at Frailloop Cottage on 1 April 2017 were submitted to the British Rarities Committee for ratification of this remarkable record not only for Arran but for the UK and Ireland."
Click to expand...

Maybe I'll send photo to them and charge for access to my garden :)
 
Female House Sparrow with as Roger mentions, pollen (or some other contaminent) on its forehead feathers.
 
Agree with Dale. Wrong bill for a linnet and redpoll
 
Dammit. Get rich scheme foiled. :p

thanks for your input all
 
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