white-crowned sparrow

In the past week the W-C Sparrows have returned to our front yard

The very local subspecies of White-crowned Sparrow breeding along the fog patch of the California Coast.

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/312102261

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/310896711

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/310896491

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/304611961

White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys leucophrys) adult.

White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys leucophrys) 1st yr bird.

immature White-crowned Sparrow

immature White-crowned Sparrows

This is an adult showing strong black-and-white head stripes. They replace head feathers each spring and evidence of molt can be seen. Three different subspecies occur here but only one breeds. This bird has a yellow bill with a dark tip, pale lores and light brown (not gray) back feather...

White-crowned Sparrow feeding in his territory near Teller, Alaska.

Well, crowned head, at any rate.

I think this scruffy muffin is a not-quite-adult male White-crowned Sparrow, moulting into adulthood. In this shot it was taking a brief recognicance break from its hectic preening. And yes, this is the trunk of the same cypress where the Pygmy Nuthatch was foraging insects in the middle crown...

Of course, even wetlands have meadow birds in the surrounding dryer areas.