i am a beginner, and just love cataloging all the birds that i see come and go...this one i just cant figure out with the whatbird.com expert and wizard, so i thought maybe someone could help. i am in northern illinois, 30 minutes from the wisconsin border. he was smaller, and with his mate (he was one of a pair)....dark coal gray on top (didn't see any stripes or speckles - seemed like a pretty solid color), but for the white on his belly. his mate looked just the same. his bright orange/yellow little beak really stood out against his dark face (which you can't see very well in the photo). thanks so much, i advance !!!
