Wow, I got two answers within 10 minutes!  As you all probably already 
guessed the answer is: juvenile cowbird. I should have guessed myself --  
since I know that they are the number one nest parasites. But his juvenile 
plumage fooled me.

Thanks to all!  You guys are great!!

Jenny

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jenny McClintock" <>
To: <>
Sent: Friday, August 11, 2006 11:37 AM
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Help ID mystery bird at feeders


Hello all!

I am looking for some help ID'ing a mystery bird at my feeders over the last 
few days. This bird is always with the large flock of House Sparrows and is 
half-again as large as they are. He definitly appears to be a mis-matched 
part of the flock. The other day, I noticed him going beak-to-beak several 
times with a female HS, it appeared as if she were feeding him.

He is gray-brown overall, with a speckled breast, a dark wing bar (scapular 
or coverts?), a darker slightly rounded and forked tail, and his beak is 
thicker than the sparrows and the top is slightly darker than the bottom.

I have posted some pictures here. They are not very good, but hopefully some 
expert bird detectives out there can give me a guess as to who he may be.

Thanks!

Jenny McClintock
Columbia

http://home.comcast.net/~mcclintock7/mysterybird.htm