adut male coming into breeding plumage (California, USA; 2009-04-12)


Golden-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia atricapilla

Native Range: North America

Notes: a close relative of the White-crowned Sparrow (and often mixes with it in winter flocks), but the adult male has a golden-yellow rather than white-striped crown; bill color also generally darker than in White-crowned Sparrow.


juvenile; bicolored bill (California, USA; 2006-10-28)
juvenile with dark bill (California, USA; 2010-10-14)

juvenile, frontal view(California, USA; 2006-11-04)
dorsal view; note gray bill, streaked back (California, USA; 2007-10-14)

eating berry (Oregon, USA; 2010-11-24)
adult male showing black eye-brow stripe (California, USA; 2009-04-12)