'Headless' bird to identify...

[Cetti]

A 'kind' friend has sent me one of his bird pictures  to identify. He knows of course but thinks it's amusing to make me suffer as he's taken the picture in such a way that the bird looks headless making it doubly difficult!

 This is what I can see: All buff coloured underneath with brown streaking (like a Thrush) on throat and underbody. Wings and upper body looks  as though it's all brown and the tail similar in shape to Chaffinch with the W at the end.

Anyone willing to help will have my eternal gratitude :-)

[FastBarry]

Well for a start Thrushes aren't streaky they are spotty. But If it's sparrow size it could be a Dunnock (Hedge Sparrow) or larger more sort of pigeon sized it could be a Cuckoo.

[Robinia]

Oh Cetti surely you're not beaten?  (If so then what hope do any of us have!?) If there's nothing else on the pic to give any idea of size it's difficult isn't it?  Think you need to ask for a clue!  Tell him the Boas will be round to sort him out.

Hope you saw my reply to your reed bunting Q's - I saw 4 yesterday.  :-)

[Cetti]

Not beaten Robby, but certainly baffled as the cunning way its been photographed gives no indication of size - which is normally  the first  good starting point for any  identification.

 My instinct tells me it's  possibly a juvenile Merlin but I'll wait a bit... Yes, I did see your reply. I'm so pleased that they are staying around - and Yes, he's a bit of all right - to your other remark :-D

Thanks FastBarry, but being buff coloured underneath rules out both  Dunnock and Cuckoo. This bird has an  almost cream underbelly with dark brown streaking just along the flank and throat area.

[FastBarry]

OK sounds like you might be looking at a raptor then.

sparrow hawk ?

[callisto]

hi well ive been on the case to and i must say im siding with barrys sparrow hawk but it could be a juvenile buzzard ? thanks for keeping us guessing......cant wait for you to tell us the answer :0

[Cetti]

Mmm, I was thinking raptor with Merlin, but definitely not a Sparrowhawk or Buzzard as these have barred chests as opposed to streaked. The tail is quite short and has a wedged, knotched tail similar to a bunting or finch.

This is so frustrating. I wish I could put it online somehow. I do appreciate your answers - thank you.

[Robinia]

Cetti - are you still staring at that pic??  Did you find out what it was? :-)

[Cetti]

Yes Robby I am!

Would you believe that my dear friend has been off-line for a week with ISP problems, so I'm still suffering. Keep looking as I'll post the answer.

[ahs]

My first thoughts were a siskin, though this is not really buff and brown.  Colouring can sometimes be deceptive from a photo, though.  I'll give it some more thought!

[Cetti]

I think you're on the right track ahs, as I've been given the clue of a LBJ, so it looks like it's either a bunting or a finch. I just wish I could post the picture here.

[callisto]

cetti........ have you disappeared off the planet ???????

i for one have been dying to know the answer to the strange headless bird.........Please put me out of my misery  before it does my head in .

[Cetti]

lol!! 

 Patience callisto, my email is unhappy but as soon as it's well and I'm in touch with my friend I'll let you know, ok?

[Robinia]

Oh no! .... I came running in all excited expecting to find the answer!!

[Cetti]

You've worn me down..... I'm writing a letter to him now. Happy now?

[Cetti]

He's finally send me another picture with the answer.

It was a Meadow Pipit - in a tree! Having seen these birds by the score over the years it doesn't match anything in any of my books - still, that's what it is.

If he should do this again I'm going to try and find a way to post it on AB  if this is feasable.....or even allowed - copyright and all that!

[Robinia]

Hooray! Mystery solved and I can see why it was difficult,  poor little thing is descibed in my book as insignificant!  Bet your friend has enjoyed his tease Cetti, just be sure he doesn't send you any doctored pics to catch you out!

Still waiting for the migrants - met a lady today who lives near Carsington water & she said there were swallows there in early March.