This is a Dark-eyed Junco, Slate-colored variety.
Friends have seen them here in PA, but I haven't had one yet.
This illustrates to me, the danger if trying to identify a bird from a non birders description if there is no photo.
Check out the subject line grey bird with black and white striped wings
This is no cheap shot at the poster but a cautionary note the next time we get a 'guess the bird' from a non birder with no photo, this one would have been fun.
A
Yes, I completely agree. I tried the above subject line in Google (before posting here) and the main answer was "Mockingbird" which was totally wrong (and I knew that) which prompted me to post it here to the experts because I knew that if I supplied a decent quality photo I would have the correct answer in a very short time (which I did).
Ahh yes, that is much more descriptive and I see how that would make quite a difference. Even so, for me (and I am just learning this) many birds look so very different as juvies that I personally enjoy the security of submitting a photo with my request to assure that the answer I am getting is as close to correct as can possibly be expected. Thanks for your input - much appreciated!
Ps, don't bother posting a description of any of your American Sparrows, they're hard enough even with a pic :t:
A
Funny that Andy's description doesn't mention this bird's most salient feature: the white stripes along the outside of the tail, which appear suddenly when the bird leaps into flight. It wouldn't have been my first guess, but junco would indeed be on my list of birds with "white stripes on the wings" as described after a poor view or by an inexperienced birder.