... change - without a molt?

You remember those very small all grey birds I was trying to ID? Well,
I haven't seen one since. However, I -have- seen several that were
close but no cigar. Specifically they have 'some' definition to the
feathers on the back and wings ... think the typical patterns of a
finch or sparrow with bars of dark and lighter color. And there is
also some color difference between the back (light grey) and belly
(almost white).

===> So, I'm wondering if these are the same birds that have aged a bit
(as in they were recently fledged before) and have gained a little
definition in the feathers. ???

As to the Grosbeaks - I saw one at our feeder just last evening.
It had been a couple of days and I was thinking they'd moved on.
But then one is still here - or was just yesterday.
These are not mis-identified. When I observe our feeder it is
usually within 10 feet of me and sometimes I am as little as 6
feet away (always on the inside of a sliding glass door which
can be either open or closed depending upon weather.

I/we are seeing birds at our feeder literally all the time.
There are brief periods when the backyard will empty - but they
come back quickly - as quickly as "I was outside doing something
and came in and closed the slider and walked away about 8 feet
and the birds were already starting to show up again.
They are consuming about 5 pounds of seeds (90% from Skagit
Wild Bird) in at most 5 days and often as quickly as 3 days. I
was picking up seed every couple of weeks, now it is 2 or 3
10 pound bags in under 2 weeks.

Had a Flicker at the seed feeder last night. Stayed and
consumed for a long time before flying off. They usually only
stay on the feeder (or suet feeder also) for less than 3
minutes.

Saw a dove with a neck ring yesterday. Ring did not go all
the way around but had a gap at the throat.

Still seeing Bald Eagles, the occasional Red-tailed, and
Turkey Vultures out it front ... and, of course, crows and
Ravens. Robins are here all the time as are the White-Crowned
Sparrows, Spotted Towhees, and the occasional Black-capped
Chickadee.
- Jim in Burlington