First are you in an area that would naturally have them. In this area during the winter they mix with what I call the crew. The crew is a flock of mixed birds including a few English sparrows. They seem to like the small grains and a place to scratch in leaf mold for small bugs. I had originally thought they were winter coloration gold finches but were much too small.

Also, regarding male and female Ruby-crowned Kinglets, the males do not always display their red crown patch. It can be completely hidden unless they want to display it. Just looking at one that does not show the red crown patch can not be safely ID'd as a female. During my graduate work we banded quite a few Ruby-crowned Kinglets during migration and often, even in the hand, we would have to part the crown feathers with our fingers to see the red in order to safely sex the birds. BN

The eagle is probably a 2 year old. I year olds are completely brown, 2 year olds are often mottled, 3 year olds have a dirty white head with a dark line through the eye and a white tail, and 4+ year old birds have the white head and tail. T.R. Michels TMIchels@yahoo.com

Thanks! When I took these photos, migration was in full swing and the leaves hadn't even started turning yet. Now most of the leaves are gone and the migrants are gone. Birdky members still report them, but mostly south and west of us, usually near large bodies of water. Of course, now the winter birds are returning..saw a large flock of Fox Sparrows on Narnia Ridge this morning