Sorry to disappoint you if you came looking for a voluptuous female but this is one of the feathered variety.

I spotted it in my garden today and though I am familiar with most common birds, I had seen nothing like this.

It was the size of a blackbird with the most beautiful bright red tummy going up under it's wings with a bluey/greyish back. When I say red, I don't mean the rusty type of red of the bullfinch but much brighter and redder.

Also the chest was completey red as opposed to the red splodge on the chest of the robin.

Any ideas?

It could be a fieldfare? It's probably cold enough for them to come down off the moors in search of food...

http://www.birdsofbritain.co.uk/bird-guide/fieldfare.htm

Thanks for the link but it wasn't that. I wish I had a digital camera than I could have posted a photo.

It says that this bird often has red wings but the bird I saw didn't have red wings but a completely red chest. The wings were a grey/blue colour.

I looked in a bird book and the closest bird I could find was the Red Flanked Bluetail. After looking on the net the photos I've found look nothing like the picture in my book so I'm even more confused.

The White Throated Robin (http://www.birdguides.com/html/vidlib/species/Irania_gutturalis.htm) fits your description, but is incredibly rare.
What do you think, Mo?

Originally posted by cgksheff
The White Throated Robin (http://www.birdguides.com/html/vidlib/species/Irania_gutturalis.htm) fits your description, but is incredibly rare.
What do you think, Mo?

it's very pretty .... well googled cgksheff :)

only two spotted in UK in years ... you were honoured Mo - what a shame you didn't have a camera handy ... :(

don't tell anyone else though - you'll have Bill Oddy popping up in your shrubbery ... and hundreds of twitchers twitching over your hedge ....:D

Originally posted by cgksheff
The White Throated Robin (http://www.birdguides.com/html/vidlib/species/Irania_gutturalis.htm) fits your description, but is incredibly rare.
What do you think, Mo?

Thats the man cgksheff. Oh I'm soooo excited. Do you think that I should notify the RSPB or anything?

Will keep my camera by the window and if it returns I'll take a photo and have it put on disc.

Will I be famous :hihi:

Originally posted by Mo
Thats the man cgksheff. Oh I'm soooo excited. Do you think that I should notify the RSPB or anything?

Will keep my camera by the window and if it returns I'll take a photo and have it put on disc.

Will I be famous :hihi:

Please notify the rspb. They will be very interested as they did a nationwide survey last month.

www.rspb.org

Could it be an American Robin?

http://www.birdguides.com/html/vidlib/species/Turdus_migratorius.htm

It looks very similar the the white-throated one and I've heard a few have made it over here.

i read the title of this topic and thought id be able to help!


but sorry, wrong type!

Originally posted by Twiglet
Could it be an American Robin?



After looking at the photo, I'd say no.

The bird I saw was a much brighter red, so much that I thought it was injured when I first saw it.

Up to press I'm still fairly sure that it is the White Throated Robin.

All now waiting, with baited breath, for your next sighting complete with photo!

(Is it just me or does the specific name of the American Robin roughly translate as "the tortoise's head"? - Turdus migratorius) :heyhey:

My guess is that it is more likely to be a wheatear. They first visitors will be arriving about now. They aren't usually as red underneath as that pic of the white throated robin but it isn't unknown.

Sorry not very good at links so go to google images and search for wheatear - you'll find an illustration v much like that one of the white throated robin.

Mo,

Wheatear?

Here is a drawing from a website (http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y28/cgksheff/Sheffield%20Forum/wheatear.jpg)

and I've found it hard to find any good photos on the web to fit your description, but here is one. (http://www.bto.org/birdtrends2004/wcrwheat.htm)

The colours of the photo look very different from the colours on the drawing don't they?

The wings look too dark.

I have got very little done today as I have been hovering around the window area but no sighting today.

could it be a jay????

Jay drawing (http://www.birdguides.com/html/vidlib/species/Garrulus_glandarius.htm)

Jay photos. (http://www.arkive.org/species/ARK/birds/Garrulus_glandarius/more_still_images.html)


... and just to be sure, it wasn't a kingfisher (http://www.arkive.org/species/ARK/birds/Alcedo_atthis/more_still_images.html) , was it?

Any further sightings or feedback from RSPB, Mo?

I'd love it to be a white throated robin but my money would be on the wheatear.

Latest cap thrown into the ring is here! (http://www.rspb.org.uk/birds/guide/n/nuthatch/index.asp)

Originally posted by Longcol
Any further sightings or feedback from RSPB, Mo?

I'd love it to be a white throated robin but my money would be on the wheatear.

Sorry but no more sightings. I would really like to get a photo before I informed the rspb bus despite daily watches the little blighter has not reappeared.

Saw Bill Oddies programme on Fri night and after seeing a nuthatch I wondered if it could be one of those. Though of course they aren't rare so that wouldn't be nearly as much fun.

PS nuthatch is only as big as a tit and the bird I saw was bigger

Originally posted by cgksheff
[

... and just to be sure, it wasn't a kingfisher (http://www.arkive.org/species/ARK/birds/Alcedo_atthis/more_still_images.html) , was it? [/B]

Definitely not. I've only seen a kingfisher once in my old life but once seen,never forgotten.:D

Not likely to be a nuthatch - as well as the size I've only ever seen them in trees. It is fun to watch them walk up and down the trunk and upside down under branches.

Having said that I've never seen a wheatear in a garden either although they're pretty common up on the moors. Chance that the cold weather could have driven it down looking for food - especially if it had only just arrived after wintering in Africa.

Originally posted by Mo
Sorry to disappoint you if you came looking for a voluptuous female but this is one of the feathered variety.

I spotted it in my garden today and though I am familiar with most common birds, I had seen nothing like this.

It was the size of a blackbird with the most beautiful bright red tummy going up under it's wings with a bluey/greyish back. When I say red, I don't mean the rusty type of red of the bullfinch but much brighter and redder.

Also the chest was completey red as opposed to the red splodge on the chest of the robin.

Any ideas?

Was it a Redwing?

Redwing (http://www.nottmbirds.org.uk/Gallery/redwing.jpg)

Originally posted by Mo


PS nuthatch is only as big as a tit and the bird I saw was bigger

HA, HA, HA. I've seen David Blunkett in real life, and believe me, a nuthatch is a lot smaller.:P

What about this bird, I'd be very grateful if someone could tell me which one it is. Also, is it normally seen in british gardens?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/lestatt209/whichbird.jpg

Originally posted by saxon51
HA, HA, HA. I've seen David Blunkett in real life, and believe me, a nuthatch is a lot smaller.:P

:D :D

I suppose that was inevitable.