ML646463090

Observation details

I once again have stared at photos of a bird I did not expect to see, although this was not as challenging to obtain photos field mark-wise as gulls are! This bird was the only non-waterfowl or gull I saw near the frigidly windy and icy Perry Monument. The bird caught my eye first as a Junco by the dark head, and I almost overlooked it as just that. Once I snapped a few photos and had a good look I realized this was unlike the Slate-Colored Juncos I was used to seeing. Although the hood is not as dark black as a textbook Oregon male's, I think the clearly marked divide of darker gray-brown hood, brownish flank wrapping all the way to the side of the chest, and darker brown cinnamon/chestnut back fall in line with an adult Oregon, possibly a female. In addition, the tan/pinkish legs and feet seen in photos stray far from the dark, almost black legs and feet of a Slate-Colored male, and the often-darker feet of a Slate-Colored female. I did consider Dark-Eyed Junco (cismontanus), the intergrade between Oregon and Slate-Colored subspecies, as an option, but I think there is too much dark flank, and too much of a difference between back and hood (seen best from side angle photo) that points towards Oregon to report that at first. A female Slate-Colored was also considered at first to be most likely, but I think there is a more pronounced brown flank and a more sharp division between hood, flank, and back than I've ever seen in a female Slate-Colored. Happy to change it upon further feedback! Examples referenced: https://ebird.org/checklist/S52994279 https://ebird.org/checklist/S52880833 https://ebird.org/checklist/S128745290 https://ebird.org/atlasny/checklist/S76601031 https://ebird.org/atlasny/checklist/S67173412