Mystery Bird: Black Redstart, Phoenicurus ochruros

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[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.

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This is a summary of several of the better books I’ve had the opportunity to review here, organized in general categories.
tags: conservation, endangered species,
Family Guy, S07E02 'I Dream of Jesus': Peter: Brian, can I see that paper for a sec? (Brian gives Peter the paper. Peter peruses the paper.) Peter: Huh... that's odd... I thought that would big news.

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.