White crowned sparrow? Hybrid? Sonoma County, CA (1 Viewer)

[MelospizaMelodiaFan]

This looks like an immature white crowned sparrow, but the lack of an eye stripe hinders me from making a positive ID. Is this a hybrid with a golden crowned sparrow? Or something else completely?

 

[AlexC]

This looks to be within the range of a young (1st year) Golden-crowned Sparrow. Nice photo!

 

[rkj]

Do you have any other photos?

 

[MelospizaMelodiaFan]

Do you have any other photos?

Not from another angle .. the bird was close just for a few seconds

 

[rkj]

Too bad. A view of the crown would have been helpful.

 

[Michael Long]

White-crowned Sparrow, GISS looks completely off for Golden-crowned Sparrow and even the most drab bedraggled and scrungliest Golden-crowns would show even a tiny hint of gold in the lores, this bird also has the faintest trace of a line behind the eye much like these birds photographed below.

ML95542831 - White-crowned Sparrow (Gambel's) - Macaulay Library

Macaulay Library ML95542831; © Cameron Eckert; Yukon, Yukon Territory, Canada

macaulaylibrary.org

ML160017401 - White-crowned Sparrow - Macaulay Library

Macaulay Library ML160017401; © Jan Allen; Yuma, Arizona, United States

macaulaylibrary.org

ML279745371 - White-crowned Sparrow (Gambel's) - Macaulay Library

Macaulay Library ML279745371; © Michael Stubblefield; Imperial, California, United States

macaulaylibrary.org

ML312101501 - White-crowned Sparrow - Macaulay Library

Macaulay Library ML312101501; © Jefferson Shank; Franklin, Pennsylvania, United States

macaulaylibrary.org

 

[MelospizaMelodiaFan]

White-crowned Sparrow, GISS looks completely off for Golden-crowned Sparrow and even the most drab bedraggled and scrungliest Golden-crowns would show even a tiny hint of gold in the lores, this bird also has the faintest trace of a line behind the eye much like these birds photographed below.

ML95542831 - White-crowned Sparrow (Gambel's) - Macaulay Library

Macaulay Library ML95542831; © Cameron Eckert; Yukon, Yukon Territory, Canada

macaulaylibrary.org

ML160017401 - White-crowned Sparrow - Macaulay Library

Macaulay Library ML160017401; © Jan Allen; Yuma, Arizona, United States

macaulaylibrary.org

ML279745371 - White-crowned Sparrow (Gambel's) - Macaulay Library

Macaulay Library ML279745371; © Michael Stubblefield; Imperial, California, United States

macaulaylibrary.org

ML312101501 - White-crowned Sparrow - Macaulay Library

Macaulay Library ML312101501; © Jefferson Shank; Franklin, Pennsylvania, United States

macaulaylibrary.org

What is GISS? Thanks.

 

[Michael Long]

What is GISS? Thanks.

General Impression, Size, and Shape. Basically the overall impression or appearance of a bird garnered from such features as shape, posture, flying style or other habitual movements, size, and coloration combined with voice, habitat, and location.

 

[MelospizaMelodiaFan]

General Impression, Size, and Shape. Basically the overall impression or appearance of a bird garnered from such features as shape, posture, flying style or other habitual movements, size, and coloration combined with voice, habitat, and location.

Thank you. I agree, it looks like a white crown other than the lack of eye stripe (or just a hint of one). The immature golden crown seems to have more "messy" or mottled feathers on its crown, this one looks very "clean."