Subject: FW: So, is it a Baltimore Oriole?
Date: May 28 23:57:59 1998
From: Jacki Bricker - seaotter at eskimo.com



Damn, damn, damn...

I am so sorry to get everyone (including myself) up in arms about what I
thought was a Baltimore Oriole at my feeder. Apparently, it's a
Black-Headed Grosbeak. Please know that I was *so* certain it was a
Baltimore Oriole, or a Baltimore/Bullock's cross--otherwise I would never
have posted to tweeters like that. I waited for days by the feeder, and
kept checking my field guides to make sure, before I made any outlandish
claims. Again, I am sorry to have gotten some of you so excited. Am I red
in the face!

At any rate, I did get some nice shots of him, which are already scanned
in, etc.. If you'd like to see them, they're at:

http://www.eskimo.com/~seaotter/bhgpage.htm

-Jacki (so much for my credibility) Bricker


-----Original Message-----
From: Hal Opperman [SMTP:halop at accessone.com]
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 1998 7:25 PM
To: seaotter at eskimo.com
Subject: Re: So, is it a Baltimore Oriole?

[Original sent to your Microsoft account]

Hi Jacki,

I went to the endodontist right after our last exchange of mail, and only
now am logging in again. The jpegs were great.

What you have here is a fine male Black-headed Grosbeak.

Similar to a male Baltimore Oriole in color pattern, but different in:

-- big, heavy, seed-cracking bill (orioles have long, pointed bills)

-- collar of orange extends up behind hood, almost a complete ring around
the neck

-- pattern of white on the wings is different

Black-headed Grosbeaks are relatively common residents of mixed coniferous
and hardwood forest, and riparian situations, in low- to mid-elevations in
Washington. You will not find them in heavily developed areas, but they do
occur in the outer suburbs and even in Seattle's larger parks where there
are enough trees to provide shelter, nest sites, and foraging habitat.

I've never had one in my yard (I live in Medina). We have seen one once or
twice in the small park near here but I do not think they nest. You must
have better habitat out there in Woodinville.

Thanks for sharing this sighting!

Hal