I live in western Montana. On my bird feeder is a repeat-visistor small brown and grey bird the size of a sparrow. Stripe of light yellow on the wings and on the tail. Beak is white-ish. Identify?
Off the top of my head, based just on what you’ve told me, I’d say you have a pine siskin. It fits your description and eco-region. That’s my best guess, but it could potentially be a female and/or juvenile Yellow Rumped Warbler or American Goldfinch. Noise and feeding habits would probably give it away.












