Siskin x canary cross?

Hi Brendan I think its more canary than anything else but just bumping up your post cos am keen to hear what the experts think too

(Pardon the Scottish Accent)

Hi

it's a Siskin male- I think there is some camera flare burning out the darker colours on the head- the wing pattern is diagnostic

S

For advice about Birding, Identification,field guides,  binoculars, scopes, tripods,  etc - put 'Birding Tips'   into the search box

Thanks both - it's an interesting one, and a very pretty individual! It's not just lens flare or overexposure, as the weather has been grey as anything - here's a picture opposite a normal male siskin for comparison. Looking at the back, the secondaries are asymmetrically coloured, but I don't know whether that's any use for telling between partial leucism or hybridisation.

This guy was causing a bit of a stir at Aberaeron harbour last week. American Goldfinch? or some Siskin cross?

In reply to jayartibee:

Re this last photo, not a Siskin or part Siskin. I don’t recognise it, but fair to say a local aviary is missing at least one bird. Looks tame and used to humans.

In reply to ItisaRobbo:

It was certainly used to humans. And the assumption was an escapee. But doesn't look quite US Goldfinch to me.

I think it is one of the fancy coloured canaries that fanciers breed fot their unusual plumage

Pete

Birding is for everyone no matter how good or bad we are at it,enjoy it while you can

Hi

everything is wrong for AmGoldy- wing pattern, bill shape etc.

S

For advice about Birding, Identification,field guides,  binoculars, scopes, tripods,  etc - put 'Birding Tips'   into the search box

In reply to seymouraves:

seymouraves said:

Hi

it's a Siskin male- I think there is some camera flare burning out the darker colours on the head- the wing pattern is diagnostic

S

I'm with seymouraves, on the initial photo, very definite camera flare, and would say a siskin.

Mike

Flickr Peak Rambler

I showed the last photo to an old pal of mine who used to breed and show Canaries he looked and said WOW !! Someone has put a lot of work into breeding that

Pete

Birding is for everyone no matter how good or bad we are at it,enjoy it while you can