Golden-crowned sparrow
Zonotrichia atricapilla
Identification Tips:
- Dark, conical bill with pale lower mandible
- Broad black supercilium and yellow crown
- Gray face and underparts
- Tan back with dark streaks
- Brown wings with wing bars
- Long tail
- Sexes similar
- Winter adult duller with less obvious head pattern
- Immature plumage (Fall and Winter) similar to adult but has plain head
pattern with just a hint of the golden crown (variable)
- Juvenile plumage (Summer) similar to immature but duller with streaked
breast
Similar species:
Adults are unlikely to be confused with other species. Immatures are
larger than most sparrows and lack the head patterns of the similarly-sized
White-throated and White-crowned Sparrows.