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
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
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
5 comments:
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.
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! :)
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
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
I've seen this a few times, but only in Spring when the Pussy Willow (or Goat Willow) is in flower, so pretty sure it's when they've been feeding on the nectar from this willow's catkins.
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