Twite?

[esthalon]

I'm an a newbie to this site and an amateur "kitchen window" birdwatcher. I do the yearly Garden Bird Survey in Ireland and enter Roving records on Bird Atlas now and again.

I'm trying to identify this bird to accurately report on the above.

I'm wondering is it a Twite?

Picasa Web Albums - Birds

[astafjevs]

Welcome to the forum Esthalon.

I think they look like twite. I certainly don't think they're redpoll or linnets, which would have been the obvious 'confusion species'.

I am far from an authority though, and my books are at home. (I'm at work).

I appreciate this doesn't help much, someone will be along shortly who will know for sure

[MIKE THROWER]

These are 1st year/Winter Linnets
Note: Heavy grey coloured bill,Twite is Yellowish with dark tip but grey brown when breeding ,face pattern, and dark-markings on centre of throat which twite never has, grey brown nape and streaky crown, and lightly streaked breast.

[astafjevs]

I prefer summer male linnets.

thanks for the pointers though Mike!

[esthalon]

Thanks guys.

They look nothing like the linnets in my book and very like the Twite....I so had my hopes up!!! (even though I know Twites are rare and endangered in Ireland.)

I guess after the first Winter they become more like the stereotypical linnet in books???