Tom,
Female Red-winged Blackbirds have a yellowish throat. It is shown in the Sibley and National Geographic field guides, but not prominently. As with many species the plumage can be variable. I believe this is your bird.
> From: "Marko, Thomas L. GS BUMED" <>
> Date: 2004/05/15 Sat PM 12:24:28 EDT
> To:
> Subject: [MDOSPREY] Help with ID
>
> This morning along the Blue Mash Nature Trail in Montgomery County, I
> encountered a bird that initially appeared to be a female Red-winged
> Blackbird but upon closer observation seemed different. It was in a low
> bush in an open field about 30 feet away from where I stood and agitated,
> perhaps because I was near its nest. Here's what I observed:
>
> - appeared slightly larger in size than a female RWBB
> - overall brown color similar to RWBB but slightly darker
> - underside had dark, heavy streaking
> - yellowish wash on throat
> - fairly wide, white stripe above the eye
> - faint narrow black line below the eye
> - bill similar to RWBB
> - call: rapid, sharp chip notes
>
> A review of several field guides points to RWBB, but not quite. The
> yellowish wash on the throat is not indicated.
Bob Ringler
Eldersburg MD
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