Tweeters,

Two days I posted a quiz photo taken of a songbird in Yosemite. The only hint I gave verbally was that it breeds in Washington State and Yosemite National Park. I got about 25 responses and about 2/3 of people guessed correctly. Before I reveal the correct answer, several additional clues can be gained from the photo. The bird just finished bathing, so the appearance of the head is no help. Neither is the fluffed up look of the body. The wing is extended and some wing coverts showing extensive pink in the wings. So, we have a brown bird with rosy in the wings. Also perched in a rocky area. The bird is a juvenile gray-crowned rosy finch. The birds were photographed at Mono Pass in the NE corner of Yosemite at a height of 10,500 feet in the high Sierras. There was a group of about 15 birds feeding around me on the snowfield while eating my lunch. Most were approaching within 50-100 feet of my location. Photos were taken with my 300mm with a 1.4X converter.

I've posted several other photos from Yosemite including adult rosies. I waited to post the adults as it wouldn't have been much of a quiz! You can find the link here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/52299853 at N08/

Enjoy!

Scott Downes
downess at charter.net
Yakima WA