Whenever we get decent numbers of Siskin through the garden at this time of year, we are always hopeful that we may get a foreign control. Today, I got just that, but it wasn't a Siskin.
The Coal tit ringed under the Belgian scheme was hatched last year and features look good for a continental bird.
The Coal tit ringed under the Belgian scheme was hatched last year and features look good for a continental bird.
Key Features of Continental Coal Tits
- The obvious one, the cold steely blue grey uppers (mantle,back,scapulars) lacking warm olive colour of British birds (only fully applies in autumn not spring).
- Other features include the more extensive black bib that extends onto upper breast and splays out at the bottom to join the shoulder
- White cheek patches look slightly bigger too, which may enhance the bigger headed look.
- More peaked crown, which when raised, produces tiny crest.The above two features give a bigger headed appearance.
- Along with the subtly less sullied underparts, they overall look more contrasty/cleaner.
- Wider nape patch?
- Tad larger size.
Calls. Subtle differences mooted. More exploring to be done.
The head and body dimensions seem wrong for a UK Coal tit - in photo it's more reminiscent of a 'greyscale' Great tit (without belly stripe).
No descernible crest. Wing 62mm which is inconclusive individually. Lesser covert pattern intermediate so possible male or female.
Cold tones on upper back - steely grey blue.
Extensive bib contrasting with very pale upper breast.
MUSSCNAT1000BRUSSELS - the clincher