What is this bird?

[mrs_overall]

I posted the other day about a bird I could hear but not see. I trawled through the RSPB birdsongs but to no avail.
This morning I spotted the bird - it is small, with a chunky looking face and the top of its head is bright red. Any ideas please?

[jackthehat]

One of these................?

http://www.dragoart.c...-woody-woodpecker.jpg

[sandyRoe]

A Redcap?

[mrs_overall]

It is a good job I like you jack or i would tell you to bog off ;-)

[jackthehat]

's only trying to be helpful............:o( <sniff>

[ChuckFickens]

A linnet??

http://upload.wikimed...px-Makol%C4%85gwa.jpg

[redman41]

The only Bird with the top of his head being bright red that I can think of is the Male Goldcrest which is Britains smallest bird. However the song does not sound right for it to be so.
Roughly what size is the Bird Mrs O, Sparrow size or smaller/larger ?

[mrs_overall]

Been through some pics - it is a goldfinch. (which is the male and which is the female?)

[ethandron]

they're both the same. it's the face that's red rather than the top of the head though.

[redman41]

Female is slightly smaller than the Male with a little less red on the face

[mrs_overall]

I only saw the flash of red briefly - I got the top of the head bit wrong.

I think it is nesting in my garden - it's a beauty

[Frank97]

Put a bird-feeder in your garden containing only niger seed, Goldfinches love it, you'll soon see some more if they're about!

[mrs_overall]

thanks for the tip D97

[ethandron]

they ignored the nijer seed i put out and went straight for the sunflower hearts.
they are lovely birds mrs. o, you're lucky to have them nesting in your garden. when the young have fledged you'll notice that they don't have the red face at all but just look like they've got a really big nose as the beak really stands out.

[Frank97]

Make sure you get the right sort of feeder, one with very small holes in otherwise the seed ends up all over the floor. :-)

[mrs_overall]

Here I am at 21 (or thereabouts...) and this is the first one I have ever seen!

[ethandron]

saw my first about 3 years ago, so you're not alone (and i'm a bit younger than you at (cough) 18 :o)

[mrs_overall]

lol

[Frank97]

Perhaps if you hadn't put out the sunflower seeds as well they would have eaten the niger/nijer/nyger(however you spell it) seed Ethan?

[ethandron]

maybe D97, although i bought the nijer/niger/whatever in a special holder with tiny little holes to encourage goldfinches into the garden as we'd previously not seen them. and it wasn't cheap!!
there are four of them right now, sitting munching away on the sunflower hearts, lovely little birds :)

[mrs_overall]

D97 - don't be harsh on ethandron - he is only 18