Jeff-that would be my guess too. They have a unique way they bob their tail when they are sitting on a branch or line. We always get a mom that nests under our carport (Central Illiniois) and it is fun to watch how many bugs she brings back to feed the babies. Kara

White crowned sparrows have been plentiful during migration this spring. We've had many reports here in MN and I had one in my yard the other day ... something I'd been hoping for the last 5+ years!

Readers Digest Book of North American Birds; ISBN 0895773511; 1990. A Fufous-sided Towhee: Pipilo erythrophthalmus: "Scratching about with one foot at a time, like barnyard poultry, rufous-sided towhees gather their food from the very bosom of the earth. It is little wonder, then, that these active birds used to be called ground robins, especially since their well-hidden nests of stems and leaves are nestled so close to the ground. Today they are named towhees because that is the sound most people hear in their song. But they were once known as chewinks, from the call they make when alarmed. In some parts of the West that call is phonetically transcribed as shrenk, while in others it sounds more like the meowing of catbirds. In sections of the Southeast they unquestionably call Louise! And although their song is translated into English in most parts of the country as "chip towhee" or "drink your tea," the birds seem to drawl it in the South, and are apt to sing chip chup chup zeeeeeee, or just a buzzy zeeeeee, in the West. Their visual field marks too are almost as varied as their vocal ones. Rusous-sided towhees in Florida have white eyes instead of red ones, and those in the West have two white wing bars plus numerous white spots on their wings and backs. But no matter where they live, all rufous-sided towhees come flying in low to the ground with the side patches in their tails looking like white chiffon streamers trailing dramatically behind them."

Atlamol, I was just coming to post a pic I found of a white winged crossbill! But there are 2 probs: 1) I haven't gotten a good look at the beAk yet and 2) I live in northwest GA. My book shows there may be a pocket of red crossbills in this area but does not show any white winged presence. It also says they very rarely show up at feeders but that's where I'm seeing these birds. tsugajunki, I also thought pine grosbeak for a while but then realized it's larger than the bird I'm seeing. There are quite a few of these in my yard - maybe up to 10. What in the world would they be doing so far away from their territory? According to my book (Peterson) they don't even migrate here.