tags: birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[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?
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.