While checking out Bryan Park this evening, around 6:30 - 7pm, I saw in
odd-looking finch (sparrow?) in the meadow by the soccer field. The bird
was about the size of the White-throated Sparrows, though I never saw it
near one (there were plenty around, though). The bird had a bright yellow
bill, white around the face, two brown stripes on its crown, and a grayish
belly. I didn't get a good look at the back or the tail. The beak was
larger than a sparrow's - the top of it being appearing even with the top
of the head, much like a House Finch's, and the line in it that's the
mouth/opening curved downward, also like a finch's beak. Considering the
white around the face didn't appear even, I'm guessing it may have been a
leucistic bird, but a leucistic what? Thoughts?
If you go looking for it, I saw it in the trees where there's a very small
gravel hill 2 - 3 feet high) with some rock benches at the top. Coming into
the meadow from the soccer fields, the area is on the left.
Alyssa Freeman
Richmond
