[EBB Sightings] immature white-crowned sparrows

Hello Phila,

I tried Ochard Supply Hardware first, and heard a singing adult but saw no young ones.

Next I went to the Emeryville Amtrak Station. Ideal Nuttali habitat: Asphalt parking lots, large commercial buildings bordered by strip lawns and landscaping. As I drove up I could hear Nuttali song echoing through the street canyons (uplifting, like Canyon Wrens at Zion). Within 30 seconds of exiting my car, I spotted a juvenile Nuttali White-crown.

The crown was dark brown with a very thin, cream colored median stripe. I'd liken the crown to Clay-colored Sparrow.
The brown eye stripe was pencil thin, and there was a noticeable brown auricular outline.

The upper breast and flanks were densely brown streaked; I mean, as dense as a Lincoln's Sparrow but the streaks much more contrasting. The bird gave me ~20 seconds then flew off.

  Rusty Scalf


--- On Sat, 5/23/09, Phila Rogers  wrote:

> From: Phila Rogers 
> Subject: [EBB Sightings] immature white-crowned sparrows
> To: "audubon  mt.diablo" 
> Date: Saturday, May 23, 2009, 9:25 AM
> 
> Dear Birders:
> 
> I am puzzled by the several fledglings I reported yesterday
> in front of OSH on Ashby Avenue in Berkeley.? I have
> observed White-crowns in immature plumage before and
> remember that their head markings are in shades of
> brown.? That observation was confirmed this morning
> when the I read more about the species on Birds of North
> America Online (a good way to spend a cold and foggy
> morning).
> 
> The fledglings I saw yesterday were distinguished by a
> single bright white line down the center of the head.?
> I could see them well because they were only a few feet
> away.? Were these markings unusual?
> 
> I encourage better birders than me to find a reason to go
> to OSH today as I think the birds will still be in the
> vicinity.
> 
> Phila Rogers
> 
> 
> ? ? ? 
> 
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