Bedraggled little bird near Lisbon, Portugal

Looks like a goldfinch to me.
Maybe the yellow breast is artificial, from pollen or something else it has come into contact with?

I agree with Goldfinch. It might be a young one moulting into adult plumage or one with a plumage aberration.

Thanks TeeJay.. (or messy heroin sniffer?)

geoffff said:

or messy heroin sniffer?)

What is that supposed to mean.

Think we may have solved the marking mystery. The poor little thing is carrying a foot ring.

So it had probably been dabbed with a yellow marker by researchers to identify it in a goldfinch flock. Perhaps the researchers will pick up this thread?

From it's poor state, we wonder if it was migrating & how far it had come?

Think we may have solved the birds mystery markings. The poor little thing is carrying a foot ring.

So it had probably been dabbed with vivid yellow marker by researchers to identify it in a goldfinch flock. Perhaps the researchers will pick up this thread?

From it's poor condition, we wonder if it was migrating & perhaps blown offshore & if so, how far it had come?

Never knew that some UK goldfinches migrated, informative article about the bird here ...
www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/.../.

Is the Goldie still with you Geoff, could you read it's ring number to report sighting?

It is returning to the balcony Wendy, but so far can't get good photo of the ring

Looking bit less bedraggled & more goldfinch now. Has a green leg ring, with perhaps 10 on it?

Definitely looking much smarter and I think it's a male going by the extent of the red by it's eye! Thanks for the update, haven't found any useful links to the colour ring!