Wildlife UK Forum - Discuss the UK countryside and wildlife

does anybody know what bird has chicks with golden feathers and a very long beak and the eggs were white?

Hmm, it's very hard to tell without a photo or a bit more description, I wouldn't want to take a guess. Is there any chance you could take a photo?

Welcome astra, yes, some photos would be nice. Perhaps you could tell us more about where the chick was found (i.e., was it at a seashore, a pond, in a tree, on the ground), and any more details you might have to give us a clue.

Welcome to Wildlife UK!

Kingfisher

well,my son was walking in woods with my grandson and he saw youths with the nest,he told them what he thought of them(i couldnt type that here!) and he rang me and i took them to a wildlife rescue centre.they wernt sure what birds they were,they were very youngand the wildlife centre wernt sure either.the chicks were a bout the size of a small sparrow.they had long necks and golden in colour.they had very long straight beaks and big eyes.they hadnt long hatched as one was in the process of hatching.the eyes wernt open but seemed large.im sorry i have no photos as i took them straight to the wildlife centre.i hope this helps

Well, after some exhaustive research (involving my father's ancient copy of the Observer's Book of Birds' Eggs fully described and illustrated in Natural Colours), I've come to the conclusion that there are not really that many white bird's eggs, and a number of birds which lay white eggs do not build nests.

So, possibly Hawfinch, Pied Flycatcher, Wheatear, Black Redstart. These birds all have white eggs. If the egg was not solid white, but speckled, there would be more possibilities.

Where are you in the UK? Were the eggs speckled, and do you remember the colour of the speckles, if so?

Kingfisher

the chicks were from havant in hampshire,the eggs were white and not speckled.thanks for helping,i would so like to know what they were,the egg was about the size of a small hens egg and was definately white.

If the eggs were that large, it's possible that the birds were Stock Doves, or perhaps Wood Pigeons.

My best guess is that, due to the size of the egg, that you rescued some Wood Pigeons.

Kingfisher

ok,thanks very much.

I hope they were ok, poor litle things!

I think Kingfisher is probably right. Baby woodpigeons don't look anything like pigeons when they hatch, it has to be said, they are quite ugly. The are covered in yellow, not so much feathers, but yellow fluff, & they have a very long beak.

I hope this works, have added a photo of a baby woodpigeon.

yes i think you are both right and the picture certainly looked like them,thank you very much for solving this for me.