House finch?

Kelly Cassidy
>
> I am not a very accomplished birder, so it's no surprise that I was
> totally unable to identify a bird I saw on Capitol Hill near Interlaken
> Park last weekend. It was *ORANGE*. That's the key distinguishing
> feature. Dark wings, dark head, dark tail, and definitely not a robin.
> The orange color fades progressively becoming lighter further down the
> bird's belly. It flies with an intermittent, rapid swooping, or dipping
> flight. Never heard it. I have a few ideas what it might be, but
> they're pretty unlikely.
>
> Any *real* birder who can suggest what this orange bird was?
>
> - S
>