Dark-eyed ...

... junco.

I love these little birds but when they are here it means winter is also here.  Not that we have had a particularly hard one this year ... knock wood.  In fact, we have not had a measurable amount of snow as of yet.  And we are already into the middle of February.  I can't say I'm disappointed though. 

I was sitting on the side deck (literally on the the deck itself not in a chair!) when this beautiful dark-eyed junco flew onto the fence beside me.  I was a little surprised as they can be a bit flighty.  It's hard to see his exact coloring here as I've converted to mono which makes him look black.  But he is indeed slated colored with a whitish belly.  Please have a look full screen.