>I have an unusual Dark Eyed Junco visiting my yard this year. Head, back
>and wings a uniform charcoal and very pale grey breast. I didn't think it
>was a Junco until it flew and revealed the white tail feathers. Is this a
>different species or just an oddity?
>
>John Shelton
>Portland, Oregon

Sounds like an adult male of one of the "Slate-colored" subspecies of the
Dark-eyed Junco. They come down to this area from Alaska in small numbers
every winter, quite distinguishable from our resident "Oregon" juncos. I'm
assuming that "very pale grey breast" refers to the essentially white
posterior underparts.

Dennis Paulson, Director phone: (206) 756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax: (206) 756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail: dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416