Bird ID Please

[Doofus]

This little bird is nesting in a nook in the barn wall outside our bathroom window.

What is it?

Poor picture, I know, but I didn't want to get too clsoe, as there are five babies in the nest.

[Jonnas]

I'm no twitcher but it looks like a wren to me........

[otolith]

Is it really tiny?

Does it look like this?

[Doofus]

It's definitely not a wren, but it's only a little larger.

It's brownish with black wings, and just about no other markings. When she sees us, she hovers in front of the window for a bit to get our attention, and then flies off to sit on the gutter a few feet away, presumably to lure us away form the nest.

When she hovers, either her feet or the underside of her wings (we can't agree on which) appear to be pink/orange

[Jonnas]

Redwing? Although they shouldn't be in Britain at this time of year........

[Doofus]

Jonnas said:

Redwing? Although they shouldn't be in Britain at this time of year........

I've just googled a redwing, and that's about as far as you can get form "no other markings" So no, it's not one of those.

Oh, and it's not in Britain, sorry. SW France. Should have said

[Jonnas]

Dunnock.......?

[ashjones]

Everything says Robin except for the colour.

[Doofus]

Nope, still too many markings

It's a single colour - sort of milk chocolatey, with darker wings and black beak

Although my photo isn't clear, the nook it's standing in is maybe 10-12cm wide, so you can see it's not a big bird.

[Doofus]

ashjones said:

Everything says Robin except for the colour.

So nothing says robin then

I don't know my birds, but I know Robins and Wrens. And Swans, Ducks, Chickens and Pigeons.

And Owls

[Use Psychology]

sure its not a duck?

[Jonnas]

I think we've tried hard enough. If you want to know, call Bill fking Oddie......

[Doofus]

I appreciate your efforts.

I found a website with 40,000-odd photos, and can't find this blummen bird on there anywhere...

[ali_kat]

Looks like a female robin to me

[Doofus]

Nope. it's smaller than a Robin, and has a black beak

[HarryW]

Dunnock

[samrr]

It's a Black Redstart.

[Dogsey]

ali_kat said:

Looks like a female robin to me

A) No it doesn't as male and female robins are alike.

B) That's a female Blackbird, no matter what the file name says.

samrr said:

It's a Black Redstart.

That looks like a good call to me.

[Mobile Chicane]

Flycatcher.

Does it bob up and down on its perch with a call that sounds like "C'est tout"?

[Use Psychology]

looks like my previous contribution is still up to scratch standards wise.

i think i can help narrow it down even further, it's definitely not a vulture, or a parrot.