Hi, first time posting. I have a pair of Great Tits that come together onto my feeder. One has the regular all black head but the other has a very bright burnt orange coloured cap on it’s head, is this unusual as I’ve never seen it before? I’ve done some research online and can’t find any information that this is a colour variation. I even started to doubt it is a Great Tit! Though I’m fairly sure it is. I’ve spent ages trying to get a photo of it but failed. Then I’ve just managed to video it, though it’s not great quality I’m afraid.
**added...I’ve realised the video is squashed and shows nothing so have paused it and screen shotted, hopefully that will show up clearly enough.
Many thanks in advance of any help.
SharonT-1837351877 said:I even started to doubt it is a Great Tit!
CHOL:):) always interesting when we notice something different with our garden visitors.
Tend to agree with Alan, or could it possibly be one of the Finch family?
Jim
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Hi Sharon, when I saw your post my first thought was that it was pollen but I agree with you that it seems unlikely that it would last very long. I'm not sure that Jim's suggestion of a Great Tit head butting wet orange paint was entirely serious . LOL
I can only suggest that you submit your sighting to the BTO as part of their abnormal plumage survey to see what they have to say. Here's the link Abnormal Plumage Survey
PS Just to show it can happen, this is a juvenile Starling which had been dipping its head in these flowers (can't remember what they were called). Pretty cool eh.
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Tony
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