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!

Comments for bright blue (almost turquoise) stripe along edges of wings

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Jun 21, 2016

Same bird? NEW
by: Kath

I think we may have been visited by the same bird - we are in the UK. NEVER seen one before and descriptions in our bird book say closest is the Jay, but not the same. This was the size of a magpie but slimmer, sandy coloured body and head and some black on both but with a vivid kingfisher coloured stripe across the wing, where the white would be in a magpie, would love to know what it is... just wish the camera was close enough to get a photo!

Feb 21, 2016

Sandy color with bright blue along edges of wings NEW
by: Anonymous

Mourning Dove?

Doves resemble pigeons and have multi hue colors with sandy
or fawn colored body and also can have black and white tail markings.

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