— Steve and Vivian Boundy, Dwight, Illinois
George: The bird you discovered in your yard is a black and white warbler, a beautiful deep woods bird. We featured it on the cover of the Feb/Mar issue of Birds & Blooms.
This bird acts much like a nuthatch, scrambling up and down tree trunks while searching for food. It nests on the ground, typically at the base of a tree.
Males and females are much alike, though her black markings are less distinct. It is a common summer resident of Illinois. Your bird probably collided with a window and sat stunned on your porch, which is why you were able to get such a close look at it.