An overweight sparrow?

I think he is plumped up, which makes him look rather rounded!

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Thank you. Still lovely to watch but definitely larger than the rest of the house sparrows we have visiting.

Thought it may have been a different species or something new.

A less happy possibility might be some kind of air sac infection or mites (have come across this only recently).

But I'll go for the plumped-up version (as it's the start of the week and it's good to be positive).

In reply to Mr. B:

Thank you all, ill clean my feeders as a precaution either way. I don't want to spread anything throughout the local flock! Definitely a female house sparrow? Poor thing.

I haven't seen her since yesterday but will keep an eye out.

Follow up question - does any have a bird bath? Any tips on location? Mimes been in a few weeks and only the odd starling and magpie has used it thst I've seen.

Thanks again all.

I can only comment on the position of our various water sources, Fulgrim. Out in the open (little chance of attack); up off the ground.

That said, we've Black Redstarts and Robins regularly using a dish on the floor next to bushes. So perhaps it's just a question of patience.

And goggles and an ice pick (for winter).

Thanks Dave!

Its currently near a fence and relatively close (1.5m) to shrubs for bird security. Its a pedestal ceramic one and i've put a variety of stones in the bottom for depth and grip.

i'll leave it there a few weeks and see what happens and move it into the open more if needed,

i'll be putting in a small solar fountain shortly so maybe that will help!

thanks again.

You're welcome Fulgrim. Sounds like a more comprehensive approach than we use.

The solar fountain's interesting (just 'inherited' one of them).

I guess we're more concerned with security than other aspects; hence the 'out-in-the-open' approach. Smaller birds use our more sheltered watering points; larger, bolder birds the more exposed ones.

I don't know if it's much of a science. I think they'll come to clean water when they know it's there. In winter, of course, more so.

Its a relatively deep bath and I thought ceramic would be slippery for them so just added some pond rocks in it to give the a hand and prevent and drowning.

Yes, i've read that moving water is more attractive to most wildlife and birds will come and investigate the sound / reflected light. I'm hoping it may help to prevent freezing in winter as it has a backup battery to store power.

I would agree! provide and they will come they say.

i'll see how it goes and report back!

Obviously, a bird bath is also a high risk area for disease transmission.