The discussion of the abnormal redpolls reminded me of a "Black-capped" Chickadee that we encountered on the Springfield, VT Christmas Bird Count. The chickadee lacked pigment on its head, but made up for lack of pigment with attitude. It responded enthusiastically to pishing and stayed long enough for Mike to go to the car and retrieve his camera. The location was on Paddock Road next to the Black River in Springfield. I posted two images of this bird on a Google Picasa web album at the link below. Copy and paste the following into your browser: <https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=mwalshvt1980&target=ALBUM&id=5583963773891796385&authkey=Gv1sRgCLPz3_PJgIPYYw&invite=CIv85N8D&feat=email>https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=mwalshvt1980&target=ALBUM&id=5583963773891796385&authkey=Gv1sRgCLPz3_PJgIPYYw&invite=CIv85N8D&feat=email -- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Marianne and Michael Walsh 151 E. Camp Hill Rd. Weathersfield, VT 05156-9629 802-885-9420 **************************************************************** To post messages, send e-mail to: [log in to unmask] Set your e-mail application to PLAIN TEXT ONLY to post messages. To contact the list owner: [log in to unmask] ---------------------------------------------------------------- Web based archives and subscription management are available at: http://listserv.dartmouth.edu/Archives/uv-birders.html ****************************************************************