Mystery Bird: Black Redstart, Phoenicurus ochruros

tags: , ,

[Mystery bird] Black Redstart, Phoenicurus ochruros a newly-fledged youngster, photographed at Arberes, Ariege, France. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]

Image: Adrian White, June 2010 [larger view].

Nikon D40x with 70-300AF.

Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.

This is a very challenging mystery bird to identify, but the bird -- a fledgling -- is just so cute (and the picture is so nice) that I just had to share it with you. Any ideas as to what species this is?

Review all mystery birds to date.

More like this

tags: Paddyfield Pipit, Anthus rufulus, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz [Mystery bird] Paddyfield Pipit, Anthus rufulus, photographed on the Yamuna River, New Delhi, India. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours] Image: Adrian White, November [larger view]. Nikon D40x with 70-300AF.…
tags: Collared Scops-Owl, Otus lettia, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz [Mystery bird] Collared Scops-Owl, Otus lettia, photographed on the Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, India. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours] Image: Adrian White [larger view]. Nikon D40x with 70-300AF.…
tags: Mediterranean Gull, Larus melanocephalus, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz [Mystery bird] Mediterranean Gull, Larus melanocephalus, photographed flying over Scarborough, North Yorkshire, UK. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours] Image: Adrian White [larger view]. Nikon D40x with…
tags: Great Thick-Knees, Greater Thick-Knees, Esacus recurvirostris, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz [Mystery bird] Great Thick-Knees, also known as the Greater Thick-Knees, Esacus recurvirostris, photographed on the Kosi River, Ramnagar, North India. [I will identify this bird for you in 48…

That's the canary which escape the coal mine. It's a rather miffed right now about being covered in coal dust.

A tough call. If the hints of russet around the vent and on the outer tail feathers are any guide, then it could be a Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros. But it don't quite look right.

I just watched a beautiful documentary on these - the endangered Black Robin of New Zealand! The body shape, and yellow bottomed black feet are the mark.

A tip, Clara, from a couple of my own missteps here. It's always worth checking the location of the photo.

Juvenile blackbird.

How about a Spotless Starling? Murray

Young blackbirds are brown, not black, but it's about the right shape and pattern. My first feeling is a redstart, but I'm not sure what the youngsters are like. It is very cute.