Thank you to all who replied to me about my mystery bird. After getting the
suggestion that it was a black headed Grosbeak, I took a look at the books
again and I believe that you are right. My feeling is that it was a
juvenile as there was no streaking on the breast.

Thanks again.

Melissa McKenzie (bmsh.mckenzie at gte.net)
Kenmore By The Lake

When you really start looking...You see things through different eyes.


-----Original Message-----
From: TWEETERS-owner at u.washington.edu
[mailto:TWEETERS-owner at u.washington.edu]On Behalf Of MBlanchrd at aol.com
Sent: Friday, August 18, 2000 6:21 PM
To: TWEETERS at u.washington.edu
Subject: Re: Need Help with Bird ID


In a message dated 08/18/2000 4:40:54 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
NJPharris at aol.com writes:

<< The bird was about the size of a robin (which is what I thought it was
until
> I saw the head) The breast was a very pale orangish yellow. No
streaks.
> There were white eye stripes and a white streak across the top of the
head. >>


This is really wierd, but..........I have the same looking bird in my
backyard. He's grey, pretty much, all over. Robin size and thrush jizz. I
suspect it's as Nick says, it's a juvenile Black Headed Grosbeak, a pair of
whom I had in my feeder the entire summer. He's helping himself to the
birdbath water (I've never seen a BH Grosbeak bathing in it.) and filling up
in the bird feeders. Goooood bird. Haven't seen adult Grosbeaks in a couple
weeks, although I heard one stanza of song about a week ago.
Michelle
MBlanchrd at aol.com
Oly, WA