You know, as the local bird "expert" where I live, I get queries like
this
regularly (and am amazed at how many turn out to be starlings, though
this one probably isn't.)

We know more about the bush then the bird by this description. I really
want to be able to identify this bird, but to do so I need the
following:

1. smallish compared to what?
2. what parts of the head are yellow?
3. black neck ring? complete? on back? on front?
4. what about the rest of the bird?
5. what does the female look like?

Deborah Raymond wrote:
>
> does anyone know or can help me narrow the field down of a neighbors
> nesting birds. it is nesting in evergreen clamatis, the bird is smallish
> the male has yellow on the head and breast with a blackish neck ring.
> they nested in the same bush last year. the female is also here at this
> time.
>
> thanks
> deborah raymond
> dlr at u.washington.edu

--
Mike Patterson
Expounder of Scientific Wisdom
Astoria High School

Having penetrated so many secrets,
we cease to believe in the unknowable,
but there it sits, calmly licking its chops.
-H.L.Menken