Hi,
I'm just learning about birds, and like to use the Merlin app to identify birdsong in our garden. Usually it picks up common birds which I can easily spot, but two days in a row it thinks it heard a Horfinch.
I know they are pretty rare, and Merlin can make mistakes so I never blindly believe it - but seeing as it picked it two days in a row I want to get to the bottom of it! I wonder if there is another bird with a similar call that Merlin has mixed up? How unlikely is it to actually be a Horfinch?
I've not had any sightings, but I understand they are shy and can be difficult to spot despite their size and appearance.
More info: We live in rural Shropshire on the Welsh borders, and have a lot of birds visit our garden - we love to feed them & try to keep the garden as wild as possible.
Merlin picked up the Horfinch call at around half 9 in the morning on both days, just as I headed out to top up the feeders.
Many thanks!
Cin J