Posted by Gary Potter (198.81.16.161) on May 24, 2002 at 23:03:14:
I have to agree with Phil that this bird is a "gray-headed" Junco. The combination of yellowish bill and white outer rectrices pretty well nails it as a Junco. I can not explain the white arcs along the lower eyelid, but the other reservations that Phil posted can (IMHO) be explained by normal variation. I have checked the Beadle and Rising Photographic Guide, and a couple of the pictures do not show much contrast between belly and flank color, so the rather uniform under parts may be due to normal variation. The amount of white in the outer rectrices seem to be limited to the outer web, this may also be normal variation. Beatle & Rising describe the three outer rectrices as "partly or completely white". I agree with Phil that this has to be a Gray-headed Junco. I am also pretty sure that it is the caniceps subspecies due to the all yellow bill, probably a first year female. (But, I've been wrong before!) :)
--good birding, Gary