Any bird experts here, please.

[Bevan Price]

Although I am interested in birds, I would not class myself as a birdwatcher or twitcher, so I wonder if anyone here can identify a bird I saw recently near home in St. Helens. It was about the same length as a blackbird, but maybe a bit plumper. Apart from the markings on the head, it was mostly shades of grey, and I cannot find a near match in a book of UK/European birds. It did not seem to be timid, and sat in a bush long enough for me to get a couple of photos.
Any suggestions, please ?

 

[Ash Bridge]

I'm wondering if it isn't a juvenile blackbird just with less developed plumage around the head Bevan?

 

[xotGD]

I'm wondering if it isn't a juvenile blackbird just with less developed plumage around the head Bevan?

I agree. Possibly suffering from a health issue?

 

[Non Multi]

It's likely to be a partial albino blackbird. They're rare, as they are more visible to predators. There's at least one newspaper article online with a similar bird photographed.

 

[Condor7]

I would agree with the above comments, definitely a Blackbird though.

 

[Westcountryman]

We used to regularly see a male blackbird with white feathers along its wings in our garden.

 

[PeterC]

We used to regularly see a male blackbird with white feathers along its wings in our garden.

I have seen several over the years from one with a single white feather to one that looked like a giant snow bunting.