| Pigeon size bird with black head, pink breast, black markings on wings/tail 11:37 - Mar 7 with 3779 views | Ryorry |
At my bird bath this a.m chipping thru the ice. Very striking, never seen before, large size distinguishes it from anything else that might otherwise fit the description. Similar to, but not a jay due the black head & more rounded shape.
Any birders able to identify it pls? Didn't have my binocs out long enough to get the details of the wing & tail feahers. |  |
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| Pigeon size bird with black head, pink breast, black markings on wings/tail on 23:50 - Mar 7 with 1064 views | You_Bloo_Right |
| Pigeon size bird with black head, pink breast, black markings on wings/tail on 19:14 - Mar 7 by Ryorry |
I've just measured the diameter of the birdbath (should have thought of doing earlier of course) which is 37cm or 14.5 inches; also googled pigeon & dove sizes ("Pigeons and doves exhibit considerable variation in size, ranging in length from 15 to 75 centimetres (5.9 to 29.5 in) - and I'd say that actually, a 24cm bird would be pretty spot on in relation to the size of the bath - tho it did look heavier to me than 88g, but that's subjective of course.
Bearing in mind my immediate reaction at the sighting being "unusual dove" - I do now think it's most likely a Rosey Starling ... unless it's a giant female bullfinch! Also the absence of any other bird that's anything remotely like it (unless interbreeding is possible? Maybe in captivity as you say).
 Hive mind of TWTD :) |
I'e just had a fiver on "giant female bullfinch". Don't let me down now Ryorry.  |  |
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| Pigeon size bird with black head, pink breast, black markings on wings/tail on 13:11 - Mar 10 with 946 views | Ryorry |
Update - just had couple of proper (wood) pigeons visiting, which immediately confirmed that I was way out with my original sizing - anything pigeon-sized would have filled/dominated the whole diameter of the birdbath, and what I saw was only approx half that.
Not seen it again, sadly. Pretty sure now it was a Rosy Starling just passing through.
Btw BlueBoots - good shout with the rare pink hooded crow, plumage not dissimilar - but that would have been even more way too large. Have seen a few 'ordinary' hooded crows in this area over the years. | |
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| Pigeon size bird with black head, pink breast, black markings on wings/tail on 17:36 - Mar 10 with 860 views | Crawfordsboot |
No he said pigeon size not sparrow size |  | | |
| Pigeon size bird with black head, pink breast, black markings on wings/tail on 17:40 - Mar 10 with 858 views | Crawfordsboot |
| Pigeon size bird with black head, pink breast, black markings on wings/tail on 14:45 - Mar 7 by WeWereZombies |
I don't think it is any of the birds mentioned so far, when I first moved into my house on Skye I had a similar bird in the garden and I never photographed it on the assumption that it would be around all the time. Never seen it since...
At the moment I am in Buenos Aires, a long way from my Collins guide to European birds but I will give my memory a jog when I get back (weather permitting) in a couple of days time. |
Skye - now there’s a clue. There wasn’t any amber nectar involved was there 🤔 | | | |
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