Sounds like the juvenile Eastern Towhee that I've got hanging out in my yard now. It has also discovered the goodies and easy pickings under our sunflower feeder....
Molly Jo Miller Inver Grove Hts, Dakota Co. -------------Original Message--- Date: Mon, 4 Aug 2008 21:54:25 -0500 From: "Ken or Rebecca Vail" <> Subject: [mou] ID Help: Dodge Co. To: "MOU-net" <> Message-ID: <B7046B36B496406A82F56D1935594DEA at testPC<mailto:B7046B36B496406A82F56D1935594DEA at testPC>> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; reply-type=original I consider myself a competent birder and do not often admit to being stumped. But this bird really has me baffled. This bird is visiting our bird feeder. I first noticed the bird two days ago but only noted its most prominent field mark a long dark tail bordered on the sides with white before it disappeared. On August 4, 2008 my wife, Rebecca, managed to get a few digital photos through the window of this bird. I have also taken some film photos (not yet developed) of the bird and will supply if desired. Description: Oriole-sized bird, dark gray/brown overall with a lighter breast, breast heavily streaked, conical grosbeak-like bill, a circular white wing patch. It's most notable field mark is a long dark tail with white borders (a long junco-like tail). Behavior: Eats the sunflower seed and forages in a shuffle-feet fashion typical of towhees and other emberizids. I attempted to upload a photo to the MOU website but was unable to do so. If you would like photos please contact me off-list and I will email them to you. I live in SW Dodge County and will supply detailed directions if this bird is determined to be of interest. Ken Vail Blooming Prairie -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080805/740479ad/attachment.html
