There has been a female 'Oregon' (*subspecies*) Junco at the Fletcher Wildlife Garden in Ottawa. The bird is seen around the feeder on a fairly regular basis. This is not news but there is another interesting individual that observers should look out for.
A female is present that stands out from other female Dark-eyed Juncos. It has colouration somewhat similar to the Oregon and may in poor light be confused with it but the head and bib are not as gray and the flanks are not as pink nor well defined and are broader. The back is brown with some streaking and there is a pale eye ring. The eye ring is what tends to grab your attention first. The overall plumage is closer to Oregon female than Slate-coloured female. This may well be just a female Dark-eyed (Slate-coloured) Junco but it does have some characteristics that hint at a female Cassiar Junco. This is a hybrid between the Slate-coloured and Oregon subspecies that is found in the Pacific Northwest but occasionally finds its way east and has been recorded in Ontario. Males are easier to identify but females are difficult. If a Cassiar, the bird would have undoubtedly been travelling with the female Oregon. This link provides useful information on Cassiar. http://jeaniron.ca/2011/cassiarjuncoRF.pdf Like all the juncos at the site, including the Oregon, this bird is relatively tame and can be observed at close range on the ground. It did not appear as regularly as the Oregon but made a few appearances over a two-hour period. Regardless of what it is the bird is an interesting conversation piece. Brian Morin Direction: Fletcher Wildlife Garden is in Ottawa in the Central Experimental Farm off Prince of Wales Drive. Heading south from Dow's Lake go around the traffic circle and continue south a short distance to the first dirt roadway to the left. There is a sign with a heron. The feeder is east of the parking lot behind the second building. When the parking lot is full (there are many dog walkers) some people park close to the second building along the south side of the road. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
