My first response is to think spotted [rufous-sided] towhee. Size fits,
has large white spots on tail, variable white on dark body. Common but
often shy urban/suburban bird.
-Jim Neitzel
Oympia, WA

On Mon, 21 Jul 1997, Mary wrote:

> This morning as I was making my morning coffee...I noticed a bird in the
> yard. My first thought was I don't know what that is...I grabbed for the
> binoculars only they weren't where they belonged as some idiot (me)
> cleaned the kitchen yesterday and had moved them...By the time I got
> them off went the bird into the spruce...I couldn't go outside as I
> hadn't put my robe on and I had my nightie on and I wasn't about to
> horrify the neighborhood at that time of morning.
>
> Anyhow my ufb was smaller than a robin, bigger than sparrow, dark but
> with light on the head (could have been a white spot) and white tail
> feathers like a Junco. The bird was bigger than a Junco. Anyone want to
> hazard a guess?
>
> I'll be ready for the bird in the morning!
> --
> Mary Jefferson mjeffers at ptialaska.net
> Juneau, Alaska
>