Golden-crowned Sparrow

At first glance you might not recognize this bird as a Golden-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla). It is an immature bird with an indistinct yellowish forecrown with dark stripes on its crown (click on photos for full sized images).

Golden-crowned Sparrow

The entire Golden-crowned Sparrow population migrates within North America between winter and summer ranges…

Golden-crowned Sparrow Range Map

arriving in California in September and October, often foraging with White-crowned Sparrows. Even though it doesn’t show on the NatureServe range map above, Golden-crowned Sparrow vagrants have been recorded eastward to Ontario and Nova Scotia, Michigan, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey; also south to Alabama, Texas, Louisiana and Florida1.

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Note that even though this is a first winter bird, it has already attained the grayish-brown, unmarked breast and the black and brown streaked back of the adult bird.

Golden-crowned Sparrow

This adult Golden-crowned Sparrow is more easily identified in its winter plumage.

Golden-crowned Sparrow

and as the winter progresses…

Golden-crowned Sparrow

the muted crown pattern of the wintering sparrow…

Golden-crowned Sparrow

turns into the very distinctive breeding plumage of the Golden-crowned Sparrow, peaking in April with its bright yellow crown and broad black eyebrows.

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Resources: 1Birds of North America Online

Written by Larry
Larry Jordan was introduced to birding after moving to northern California where he was overwhelmed by the local wildlife, forcing him to buy his first field guide just to be able to identify all the species visiting his yard. Building birdhouses and putting up feeders brought the avian fauna even closer and he was hooked. Larry wanted to share his passion for birds and conservation and hatched The Birder's Report in September of 2007. His recent focus is on bringing the Western Burrowing Owl back to life in California where he also monitors several bluebird trails. He is a BirdLife Species Champion and contributes to several other conservation efforts, being the webmaster for Wintu Audubon Society and the Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Urban Bird Foundation. He is now co-founder of a movement to create a new revenue stream for our National Wildlife Refuges with a Wildlife Conservation Pass.