Spotted this at Monkey World in Dorset in Dec 21. Could never work out what it was. But have just come across the White Breasted Nuthach which looks very similar, but appears to native to North America only. Any thoughts?
Ps. It wasn’t in a the caged area with the monkeys before anyone asks
It looks a bit snow bunting-y to me, but I've only ever seen them in books, and am notoriously rubbish at ID-ing stuff, so hopefully one of our more experienced members will pop along and have a firmer idea than me
It doesn't have the jizz of a nuthatch to me. I suspect it is a leucistic plumage common bird, perhaps a dunnock.
I was wondering if goldcrests have a winter plummage as it was very similar in shape
They don't.
Very hard to judge size, but it does resemble an extremely pale goldcrest, and the markings it does have appear to match. Hard to tell though from the photos. Certainly not any type of nuthatch though.