Junco

From heaven like manna comes the birdseed. More prosaically, I suspect a squirrel raiding the feeder hanging off the 5th floor balcony. Down here, a dozen house sparrows, those familiars, hop about, gleaning the windfall. Then they bolt, to the fence or beyond when a shadow, a gust of wind, a noise, intrudes their finchy -- for they are finches, you know -- hunting. To return seconds later, back at it. But wait, what’s this? A snowbird, the slate colored dark-eyed junco (Junco hyemalis), winter’s messenger. Shooting through a window, at something that will not pause, while trying to not move myself; these pics are more impressionistic than anything else. The white belly and pink bill comes through, though, especially below.
In flight, look for the flashes of white on the sides of the tail. I'll be co-leading this Sunday’s 8 am birdwalk starting from the Audubon Center in Prospect Park.