MD Osprey:

The bird I referenced below, is not a Snow Bunting, after all, but rather a 
very interesting imitator! ... a partially albino Brown-headed Cowbird. 
Thanks to Bob Ringler for scrutinizing some frame grabs and keeping me 
honest. This bird is mostly pure white ... with no brown at all. The head 
and neck are all white and there is black on the wings and tail, however, 
the pattern is not right for a breeding plumage (or transitional) Snow 
Bunting. Bob was also able to define the bill structure from the images and 
it matches the cowbird's profile.

A neat bird, for sure.

Phil

At 15:40 10/01/2005, Phil Davis wrote:
>MD Osprey:
>
>I know the species is already on the MD Comp list from last winter, but 
>FYI, I was emailed a copy of an excellent video clip that shows a Snow 
>Bunting (still with a lot of alternate plumage showing) cavorting with a 
>flock of Brown-headed Cowbirds on the ground around a feeder in Middle 
>River, Baltimore County. The bird was present from 25-28 Sep 2005. 
>According to the "yellow book," this appears to be the earliest fall 
>record for Maryland.
>
>Phil
>
>==================================
>Phil Davis      Davidsonville, Maryland     USA
>                 mailto:[log in to unmask]
>==================================