Bird Banding Species Accounts

I will begin to generate a series of species accounts on the various birds that we commonly (and later uncommonly) encounter at our banding stations.  A lot will have to do with whether I can take decent enough pictures to show appropriate characteristics and good enough that I am not embarrassed to post.  One might think it is easy to get bird shots when holding a bird, but it is surprisingly difficult to get good pictures.  

Although the majority of the information can be and was gleaned from such sources as the National Geographic Society's Birds of North America, Sibley's Guide to the Birds, Bent's Life History of North American Birds, The Birds of North America, and Pyle's Identification Guide to North American Birds, there will also be a section on bird banding notes related to the bird in question, often of an anecdotal nature and thus not in the above publications.  Thus far, only thirteen are posted.

A site I recently learned about is the Stanford Alumni Association's Birds of Stanford, which has species accounts, essays on ornithological topics, and more

Bewick's Wren
Black Phoebe
Black-headed Grosbeak
Bushtit
California Thrasher
Cliff Swallow
Hermit Thrush
House Finch
Oak Titmouse
Song Sparrow
Spotted Towhee
Swainson's Thrush
Western Scrub-jay
Wrentit