The Dec. issue of Birding, published by the ABA, included a photo of a
sparrow. The Feb. issue provided the answers to the Dec. quiz. The answer
includes a detailed study of all the bird's features and why each leads to
the final answer. In the case of this sparrow, a very distinctive feature
was a very light yellow bill. However, the study did not mention this
feature. The answer was that it was a Chipping Sparrow. In my limited
birding library I don't find any mention about the Chipping Sparrow having
a light colored bill in any of its plumages. Did anyone else that gets
this magazine have any problem with the diagnosis? Can you refer me to a
book that would verify the light colored bill for a Chipping Sparrow?
New Subject - In my ongoing survey of birds in the Lake Hills
Greenbelt in Bellevue, WA I reached a milestone today. I got my 100th bird
on the bird list for the area - Hairy Woodpecker.

Hugh Jennings
Bellevue, WA
gfjc96a at prodigy.com