bright blue (almost turquoise) stripe along edges of wings

by Lily Barton
(Oxford)

Smallish, and mostly very light brown/sandy or fawn-coloured bird.

About the same size as a large pigeon, and a similar shape - possibly the tail was a bit longer than a pigeon's though

I was struck by the bright blue almost turquoise stripe/streak along the edge of the wings. The inner edges (when the bird in profile to me).

There were also slender black stripes just 'behind' the blue stripe, along the wings; and smallish black stripes (possibly more zig zags) along the face/head area. I think it had some white stripes accompanying the various black ones too!

It was a very pretty and unusual looking bird. I'm not sure whether it was a jay (a British jay so mostly brown rather than blue)? I have been trying to figure it out by looking at photos online...

I saw it while walking through a local churchyard (which is also a conservation area) in Oxford this lunchtime!