Expert: Roger Lederer - 1/10/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hello,
Between Christmas and New Years I saw a bird near a protected road here on the Monterey Peninsula, the likes of which I had never seen before! I'd love to know what it was.  I've checked out all the cards/books about birds native to our area and have found no match.  I'm guessing it was some kind of exotic that escaped or was "blown" here.
What I saw:  a medium sized bird black on top of head and back, with white immediately below the black. A yellow-orange "smear" along each cheek; a solid gray breast.  Unfortunately, I went by quickly and was so surprised that I didn't notice its beak, and it was walking in some grass/pecking so I couldn't see its feet.
What do you think?
Thank you!!

ANSWER: Well, that isn't much to go on, ESP with no beak description , but I'm guessing Flicker-the orange cheek marks especially.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your response.  Given what I said, I understand how you came up with the Flicker, which is a beautiful bird from the pictures I looked at. . . just, unfortunately, not what I saw by the road!
What was startling about the bird that I saw was how distinct the black was from the white from the gray. There didn't seem to be any overlap in color.  The yellow-orange below the eye (much the same hue as the color of the "search" button on my internet) seemed to be the only color on top of another (the white of the face).   
I don't know if that's of any help.  I'd be interested if you have a second guess.  Either way, thank you very much for your time.

Answer
OK; I think maybe it's a Yellow-billed Magpie. They have the distinct black/gray/white although the gray is actually a grayish blue. The orange beneath the eye is the yellow-orange color of the bill itself at the inner jaw. Check that against a picture.