Mary asked -


> 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?

Orioles have rather long graduated tails unlike the birds you described.
How big were they in relation to a robin? Could they have been winter-
plumaged goldfinches?

- Jack



Jack Bowling
Prince George, BC
jcbowling at mindlink.bc.ca