Following on from Rachel’s difficult guest object last week, I have another bird for you to identify:
(N.B. the skull is 53mm long)
Any ideas what it is?
As usual, put your questions, comments and suggestions below and I’ll do my best to respond. Good luck!
Zygoma 
Beautiful plumage!
Not a Norwegian Blue, but this bird does have a name that relates to the state of its plumage – so a good start!
It’s a bird!
How could you tell?
Is it a bird which spends a good bit of time around water?
Not so much
A thrush of some kind?
Not quite, but actually a fairly close relative.
Blackbird?
As above!
How big is it and is it native to uk?
Well, the head is about 5cm (2 inches in old money) long and it’s not native to the UK
Its a redwing!
Nope – ‘fraid not
Is it a Indian fairy bluebird ?
Nope – wrong continent. Reasonably close relative, but different family
Bulbul?
Not a Bulbul I’m afraid
Thanks for the conversion … You said the name related to the state of the plumage rather than specifically the colour. Nevertheless I’m going with Rhode Island Red. Or similar, cos I think it’s a chicken.
Not chickeny!
By process of elimination, then, I’m guessing it must be an American bluebird, genus Sialia.
Sorry – I should have been clearer when I said it wasn’t a thrush, I meant it wasn’t in the Thrush family – the Turdidae. So no.