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!
Juvenile White-crowned Sparrow are streaked below and the juvenile plumage ifs replaced after just a few weeks of life by a formative or first basic plumage with no streaks below. At this point the bird should be referred to as an immature or first winter, but not juvenile.
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