Re: [MDOsprey] interesting bird
Kathy Klimkiewicz (Kathy_Klimkiewicz@usgs.gov)
Mon, 30 Aug 1999 16:34:54 -0600
I ran this description by Mary Gustafson as she is very familiar with
caged birds -- her response was:
"Sounds like a waxbill of some kind, probably leucistic; maybe a
molting strawberry finch/avadavat or a red-rumped waxbill."
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Kathy Klimkiewicz
Laurel MD
P.S. While I am here -- the Chimney Swift roost is building again
across from my place (825 Fourth St. Laurel, MD).
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Subject: [MDOsprey] interesting bird
Author: mdosprey@ARI.Net at NBS-Internet-Gateway
Date: 8/30/99 2:49 PM
This morning I had a beautiful little bird in my yard that must be some kind
of escaped caged bird. I saw it 3 times at less than 20 feet; my husband
also saw it the third time and was able to verify the markings I called off.
The face up to the dark eye was a bright coral red as was the conical bill.
The rump or maybe tail base was the same color. The back was brownish with a
faint wash of coral. There were no wingbars on the gray wings. The crown
was gray like the cap of a mature catbird. The tail was gray. The
underparts were white with a slight wash of coral red on the upper flanks.
The bird was in a weedy woody and herbaceous area and was never seen above 4
feet. While we were waiting for the bird to reappear a Chat came into the
same area. The bird was smaller than the Chat. BTW, the only other yard
records I have for Chat were in August and Sept 1991.
Cloudy, windy up here on the hill, 7:35, 7:50, and 8:05 A.M.
Can anyone identify this lovely bird for me?
Charlotte Friend