> The description I was given
(small, dark hood, grey/brown on the remainder of the body) sounds
suspiciously like a Dark-eyed Junco, but the picture I showed her
(pictures, actually) didn't seem to turn the lights on. She also
> said it was smaller than my hand
estimate of a Junco. Any thoughts appreciated.

Sounds to me like a Bushtit. They're small, finchlike, and fit the size
and plumage description. They also nest in bushes like fuchsias. They
also seem to form societies after nesting and during the winter.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ray Korpi "The intimate revelations of young
Wk: Clark College men . . . are usually plagiaristic and
Vancouver, WA marred by obvious suppressions."
Hm: Portland, OR --F. Scott Fitzgerald
address: rkorpi at clark.edu _The_Great_Gatsby_