Last Saturday and just now (about 12:45 pm, 2/15/10, snow starting again)
an ovenbird came to gather the bittersweet berries I've mentioned earlier.
He was no more than about 10 feet from me so I got a lovely view of his
streaked chest; I was trying to see the top of his head but could not. He did
a palm warbler sort of jerky movement on the bittersweet and in the tree.
When he flew off I got the binox and a good view of the back of him. The
tail is sort of bronze-colored and there was a light bluish tinge on his belly,
near the rear end. Is this coloration normal?
Ann Donaldson
Barboursville VA
