Unknown sparrows (1 Viewer)

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Dave S

Corporate Lacky

• Apr 18, 2004

• #1

Are these golden-crowned sparrows? None of my books show loose yellow markings on the head... they're much more distinct. Both of these were taken at two separate wetlands.

 

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petectid

Well-known member

• Apr 18, 2004

• #2

No field guide will ever show a bird in all its variations of plumage during moult, but for me these birds are Golden-crowned Sparrows. The makings of the yellow crown and black supercilium, bicoloured bill The first pic looks to me like a first winter? Or winter adult bird moulting into breeding. The second pic seems like a first winter the odd thing being the pink colour in the bill?

 

Katy Penland

Well-known member

• Apr 18, 2004

• #3

I'd agree with Golden-crowned for both. The more extensive yellowish feathers on the forecrown isn't atypical for first-winter birds. Although, as petectid says, that pink, monochrome bill is puzzling.

 

Charles Harper

Régisseur

• Apr 19, 2004

• #4

The bit of golden on the crown is definitive for NA sparrows. Bill of first bird is classic; no idea about the pink one on bird 2. Some White-crown in it?

 

D

Dave S

Corporate Lacky

• Apr 19, 2004

• #5

That would make sense. The second was taken in an area where there were alot of white-crowned sparrows. I did not know the white-crowns showed yellow at all. I'm pretty new to this, so I'm not familiar at all to molting colors.

 

Charles Harper

Régisseur

• Apr 19, 2004

• #6

... the yellow would have come from the GC and the bill from the WC... all grasping at straws, of course.