What kind of birds live in San Jose, CA? (Silicon Valley)?

Question

I'm trying to identify a bird I saw.

Time: Summer, Daytime

Color: probably grey, or another nondescript color

It's not: a pigeon. Pigeon's are too fat?

It is: not a particularly special/colorful looking bird.

This is for my college essay. It's not essential, but it'd be nice to have a name to call it other than 'the bird'.

Answer 1

There are hundreds of bird species that live in San Jose.  If it was mostly gray..maybe a Northern Mockingbird..if blue with gray..possibly a Western Scrub Jay.  I just mention these two as they are pretty common throughout California and having the little bit of info you gave..that is the best guessing I can do.  More info such as size, bill shape, what type of habitat it was seen in, markings on wings, head, tail,  etc. would also help.  All you told me was that it MIGHT be grey.  

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBir...

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBir...