Hopefully someone can help with identification of todays "mystery
birds".There were 5 birds feeding on the "catkins" of a birch tree (this
was in the Arboreteum-tree may have been something odd but looked like a
classic white birch). They had distinct yellow hoods (not bright yellow)
and there was a sharp line of demarcation between the hood and buff
breast. the lateral aspects of the abdomen were a light copper-orange.
Tail was short, notched and white with black outer feathers (ventral
view). Eye was dark with possibly a pencil thin eye streak.The nape was
also yellow but with an olive or grey tinge. There was a broad white wing
bar. Beak was dark, and not heavy like a finch but broader than a
flycatcher. could these be immature northern orioles?
I didn't find the black and white warbler but did see a Townsends
warbler, brown creepers,spotted towhees,chestnut backed chickadees and
black capped chickadees,winter wrens, bewicks wrens, ruby crowned
kinglets, a Virginia rail.
thanks for the ID help
Mary Poss
Dept Microbiology
UWA