>
>
>this case, Swainson's Thrush (Varied Thrush throat-clearing; it's even quite
>early for Hermit Thrush), Warbling Vireo (Purple Finch song), or
>Black-headed Grosbeak (variant Ruby-crowned Kinglet or Fox Sparrow song).
>

I have *seen* Hermit Thrush sing during Christmas Bird Counts. Those not
familiar with it would almost certainly mistake it for Swainson's Thrush,
though flat and not quite right.

But Mike is correct, for those first arrivals, when the ol' search image is
working over time for signs of spring... when juncos can alternately
sound like Rufous Hummingbirds or O-C Warblers and Starlings break out there
variations on a flycatcher theme... those visual confirmations are oh so very
important.




--
*********************************** I got the blues so bad one time
* Mike Patterson, Astoria, OR * it put my face in a permanent frown
* mpatters at orednet.org * but I am feelin' so much better
*http://www.pacifier.com/~mpatters* I could cake-walk into town