Wednesday, March 08, 2017

Blue Tit with yellow face??

Called in at Cromwell Bottom to have an hour at the feeding station when I noticed this Blue Tit with a yellow face!
A bit of a Google doesn't come up with much other than it could be pollen staining??
Anyone seen it before or have any ideas as to the cause/reason behind it? thanks


4 comments:

Dave Brotherton said...

That's a bit different Phil suits it though, no I've never seen one like that but I'd go with the pollen mate
or it's stuck it's head in a can of paint.

Phil D said...

I thought the same Dave, makes for a bonny looking bird.
I was a bit surprised to read it was more likely pollen stain, a bloke taking photos next to me said it'd been about some time, obviously hasn't washed in a while! :)

David Sutcliffe said...

Don't know whether this helps Phil as there is reference to yellow pigmentation on the BTO page - 'Plumage abnormalities'. You are probably correct about the pollen ? and there is the same yellow just below the neck as well

https://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/gbw/gardens-wildlife/garden-birds/behaviour/plumage

Phil D said...

Interesting Dave,thanks for the link. I'll keep me eye out and see if its still about over the next week or so, cheers