Bird question for bounty

[loulou]

bounty have you any idea what these birds I am seeing near the fish quay are. There is 2 of them and they are the size of between a finch and a sparrow with red faces and black crowns.

[wjp666]

penguins!

[oldspice]

[loulou]

penguins!

          

bounty have you any idea what these birds I am seeing near the fish quay are. There is 2 of them and they are the size of between a finch and a sparrow with red faces and black crowns.

 

Goldfinch

[loulou]

Yes that is it. Thanks bounty.  Such a beautiful bird. Would I be right in thinking that is a male as I also seen some that are all brown bodied with no yellow and thought they may be female.

 

Yes that is it. Thanks bounty.  Such a beautiful bird. Would I be right in thinking that is a male as I also seen some that are all brown bodied with no yellow and thought they may be female.

No, the female is very similar to the male but the red face is somewhat duller.  I suspect the other birds you have seen are Linnets.  The males have a greyish head and a variable amount of pink on the breast and brown bodies and wings. The females are a very unremarkable brown all over.  They have a twittering call but the male's song is a beautiful jumble of whistles, jingles and twitters.

[Pussycat]

Goldfinches visit our garden. I refrain from eating them though.

I should think so too!