Fink Family Farm Bird List

Fink Family Farm Bird List

The only list I faithfully keep is a list of all the birds seen on our farm since we moved here in 1977. I thought it would be fun to add p...

Thursday, October 13, 2016

White-crowned Sparrow?

When I saw this bird on Oct. 10, I had no doubt it was a 1st fall White-crowned Sparrow. But now that I've seen my photos, I'm confused. Do they usually have black tips to the upper bill? And such wide median, almost yellow, head stripe?

update: the word is in and this is a first winter White-crowned Sparrow. Alan Contreras tells me they vary a lot. Judy Meredith says Gold-crowneds have all dark upper mandible. That's how I have always told the young White-crowns from young Gold-crowns but this bird's black tip had me puzzled. Thanks Alan and Judy!And thanks, Dave Irons for explaining the difference between juvenile and first winter White-crowns. Now I'll pay better attention!