White-Crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia leucophrys
White-Crowned Sparrows are interesting birds for several reasons. One is that some of them are migratory while others are not. In the San Francisco Bay Area, we have both types (during the breeding season). They can be distinguished by some difference in their calls (like different dialects). Males and females look similar, but the juveniles can usually be distinguished from the adults by their crown colors. The left photograph is of an adult showing its bright black-and-white crown stripes. It was taken at the Pt. Isabel Regional Shoreline in Richmond, CA on January 27, 2016. The right photograph is of a juvenile, with a crown of rufous and dull white stripes. It was taken at Meeker Slough in Richmond, CA on January 22, 2015. (Click on images to see enlarged versions.)