Seems to me that this determination is still *way* up in the air, unless
the mystery bander lapped the bird. A chestnut nape is found in females,
according to both K. Kaufmann (Master guide) and Byers, et al. (Sparrows &
Buntings). I've heard Pyle et al. described as the "bander's bible," and
in this case it seems a particularly apt metaphor (written word taken as
gospel in absence of physical confirmation, i.e., no specimens cited). It
is interesting that Byers et al. mention distinct mantle lines or "braces"
as characteristic of juveniles, but not adults -- the Montlake bird had
*quite* distinct mantle lines; I noticed them right off in the field, and
they show up quite well in the photos on Tor's web page (and C. McInerny
describes them in his account). That said, I'm not sure how much faith we
can place in Byers, et al. for ageing/sexing CCLO, because they also
indicate that adult winter females have dark chestnut, but *not* black,
bases to breast/belly feathers, whereas breeding females can have lots
of black on the breast (cf. Dennis's Slater specimens). If the change
from winter to summer breast color is accomplished by feather wear, not
molt (fide Kathleen Hunt and Dennis Paulson), then Byers et al. have
to be wrong on this.

David Wright
dwright at u.washington.edu