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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!whuxlm!jug
From: jug@whuxlm.UUCP (Grauman Joseph)
Newsgroups: net.rec.birds
Subject: What is this bird?
Message-ID: <875@whuxlm.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 18-Nov-85 10:38:10 EST
Article-I.D.: whuxlm.875
Posted: Mon Nov 18 10:38:10 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 19-Nov-85 04:19:41 EST
Distribution: net
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Whippany
Lines: 25


I need some help in identifying a bird I saw yesterday at our
feeder.

Generally, the bird looks like a finch in size (approx. 6"), shape,
and beak, yet I couldn't find it in my bird book (Birds of North
America by Robbins, Bruun, and Zim, 1983 edition), even though it
had some striking markings.  As I mentioned above, the bird lokked
like a finch overall.  Its head was bright red from just behind the
ears to the front, including the throat.  Upper mandible was dark
and lower mandible was light.  The body was pure white, except that,
in the middle top of the head (where the red ends), a triangular
dark gray patch starts and spreads to the wings which have
the same coloration with some white feathers showing longitudonally.
The tail is also gray and rather slim.

I should also mention that I live in northern NJ, and the backyard
borders some deciuous woods.  The bird was feeding on the ground
first, and then in the feeder along with the sparrows.  

I would appreciate your help. 

Joseph U. Grauman
AT&T-Bell Labs, Morristown, NJ
(201) 898-1540