[EBB Sightings] Yellow headed sparrow?

A few years ago, I saw a remarkable Savannah Sparrow in the area known as
the Berkeley Meadow (next to the Marina and Cesar Chavez Park). The bird had
a strong yellow cast all over with yellows on the head being even more
saturated. The wing coverts had a 'burnt orange' cast, like the lower belly
of a Say's Phoebe. Its shape and behavior were fine for Savannah as was its
plumage minus the extra pigment.

   Rusty Scalf
   Berkeley, CA



-----Original Message-----
From: sightings-bounces at diabloaudubon.com
[mailto:sightings-bounces at diabloaudubon.com] On Behalf Of Chris
Sent: Monday, March 08, 2010 8:25 PM
To: EBB Sightings
Subject: [EBB Sightings] Yellow headed sparrow?

hi folks,

We were at the Hayward Shoreline Interpretive center today (Mon. March 8th)
and there was an odd sparrow in the pickle weed next to the center.
He was around the pond and levee on the east side of the building.

It mostly looked to us like a Song Sparrow who had it's head dipped in
yellow.
Call was similar but different to the Song Sparrow.

Of course our first thought was Savannah Sparrow - and that may be correct -
but I've never seen one with this much yellow.
And there were other Savannah Sparrows around that looked more normal to us.

The bird was basically dark brown stripes on brown/tan body.
Short tail.
Definitely a sparrow beak.
Dropped down into the pickle weed or flew away a short distance if
approached too closely.
Yet it flew to within 6 feet of me (into a small bush) when I was standing
still.
Small brown (not black) breast spot.
Streaking on chest stopped abruptly mid belly (reminding me of a Lincolns
Sparrow).
Head was same, tan with darker brown streaks on face and head.
Top of head seemed to be a wider brown stripe.
Was similar to the juvenile Savannah Sparrow in Nat. Geo. book.

But then it gets weird.
Not just the lores were yellow, the cheeks, top of head, sides of head,
under chin part way down it's neck (not sure about the back of the head).
Almost as if you had dunked the entire head in yellow.

We thought maybe it was pollen covered but never saw the pollen covered head
look that yellow.
The yellow reminded me of a Yellow Warblers yellow color.
And there was no obvious source of so much pollen anywhere around there.

Any ideas?

We may go back and try to get a picture tomorrow or next day, weather
permitting.
I hope it wasn't something very rare blown in by the storm and gone
tomorrow.

-Chris & Cyndie
San Jose, CA

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