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From: svihla@evax6.eng.fsu.edu
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Smoke Alarm Bird
Message-ID: <1991Apr24.013112.23290@mailer.cc.fsu.edu>
Date: 24 Apr 91 05:57:10 GMT
Reply-To: svihla@evax6.eng.fsu.edu
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News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.3-4


 I was leaving work about three in the morning last week when I flushed
a bird in a tree next to the sidewalk.  It took off emitting a high pitched
squeaking that sounded about like my smoke alarm does when it goes off.
I thought at first it might have been a bat, but subsequent
nocturnal encounters proved that it was indeed a bird.  I usually see them
around sunset - they hop along the ground in a field next to the
building, emitting single high pitched notes frequently.  They seem to
have a gray or dark cap with a thin white circle at the base.  The face is
white, the bill is dark, then it gets complicated. The throat is barred -white,
 then black, then white, then black.  The markings are striking. The 
belly is a creamy white, the wings are grey or some other darker color.
They spend a lot of time on the ground and I've seen them several times
hopping around the lighted building after midnight.  They're about the size 
of a large sparrow, I guess.  I don't think they're house sparrows although
it's possible.  Any other candidates?