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ID bird please

B3B3 Posts: 27,503

I've just seen a sparrow-like bird with a very black head , no white markings that I could see , going in and out of my ivy hedge.

I live in London.

Does anyone know what it is?

 

 

In London. Keen but lazy.
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Posts

  • pr1mr0sepr1mr0se Posts: 1,193

    Sounds like a Black Cap - they are becoming less rare than they used to.  Smaller than a sparrow, though, but at this time of the year the black head is quite pronounced.

    We used to have a pair visit our previous garden, and I noticed that the male could be quite aggressive to the other small birds.  But nice to see varieties that, a few years ago, were not often seen in my garden.

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,503

    Thanks SV will Google

    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,503

    More whole head than just a cap. Black definitely covers it eyes anyway

    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    look at male reed bunting. 



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,888

    sparrow in a balaclava ? it's cold out there. image

    Devon.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    Casing the joint Hosta  image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,888

    oh nut, I've never seen one of those before. Aren't you clever?

     

    Devon.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,503

    Bit skinny for a sparrow. Maybe it's a racing sparrowimage

    Will check reed bunting. There's a little river a few hundred yards away if that's the kind of reed they favour.

    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • LesleyKLesleyK Posts: 4,029

    Female bullfinches have a cap that cover the eye, but they also have a dark wing and tailimage.  It's a mystery so I'll go with Hosta's suggestionimage.

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,503

    Google images shows reed bunting very similar.

    We've had bullfinches but I think they're a bit rounder

    In London. Keen but lazy.
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