In response to Jack's question
> 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?

This was the other consideration that I had, but the beaks on these birds
were dark and not finch-like. they were smaller than a robin and more
slender, about the size of a tanager. Do winter plummage goldfinches have
yellow hoods no black caps and broad white wing bars?
Mary Poss
Dept Microbiology
UWA