Thanks Konrad. Its a pretty dark picture. After searching for images on the internet, I think I'm inclined to think its a young starling. I read that both cowbirds and starlings walk instead of hop, so I'm thinking starling. There have been several adult starlings around, but never with this little one. Maybe I'll try to lighten the pic. I should have done that to start with.

The Towhees around here-East Tennessee-certainly sing the "Drink" part of their song, also the "Tea" part-sometimes written as towhee. This am I heard "Drink, drink, drink....long pause...your tea" Then just "drink drink..." I think it's a little later in the year when I hear the "tea" or "towhee" part alone. Right now I have an Eastern Wood Peewee that repeats "pee-oh-wee" over & over & it's kinda mournful sounding. He sings from a cedar tree in a small cemetary across the road & it seems fitting somehow. Susan

Thanks for your help...I had no idea whatsoever. I've never seen one before, and certainly never seen a male or anything else like it. But I just looked it up and it's not a nice bird to have around. I think it went away and I sure hope it doesn't come back. Here is a link that might be useful: Cowbird eggs in nestboxes -- Sialis.org

European Starling. Check the transitional juvenile photo in the Field Marks section of All About Birds. It's the sixth photo in the lineup - click on the arrow to see them all. Claire This post was edited by claire on Sat, Sep 20, 14 at 11:00