White-crowned Sparrow x Golden-crowned Sparrow hybrid, Nordlund, Jefferson County (Washington, USA), 2nd February 2011 - copyright Steve Mlodinow
(photo ID: 1458)
The Golden-crowned Sparrow influence in this bird is pretty obvious, even to me. But I'll leave it to Steve to explain the White-crowned:
"Note the black extending back from eye, wrapping around posterior whitish supercilium and then starting forward again along superior border of supercilium. This feature is only seen in White-crowned Sparrow among Zonotrichia. Also, the pale back streaks are grayer than seen in Golden-crowned Sparrow, and the underparts at the pallid/dull extreme for that species."
White-crowned Sparrow x Golden-crowned Sparrow hybrid (same bird as in photo ID 1458 above), Nordlund, Jefferson County (Washington, USA), 2nd February 2011 - copyright Steve Mlodinow
(photo IDs: 1459-1460)
The next bird is similar in showing a broad supercilium with a dark lower border extending back to connect with the lateral crown stripe. Steve also notes the all pink bill and tells us that the bird was intermediate in size between the two parent species.
White-crowned Sparrow x Golden-crowned Sparrow hybrid, Monroe, Snohomish County (Washington, USA), November 2005 - copyright Steve Mlodinow
(photo ID: 1499)
The next bird looks very similar to White-crowed Sparrow except for the yellow on the forecrown and above the eye.
White-crowned Sparrow x Golden-crowned Sparrow hybrid, Potter Valley (California, USA), 10th January 2011 - copyright Matt Brady
(photo IDs: 2113-2114)
Steve tells us this hybrid is found nearly annually in Washington.
White-crowned Sparrow x Golden-crowned Sparrow hybrid, Brady Loop Road, Grays Harbor County (Washington, USA), 22nd October 2015 - copyright Steve Mlodinow
(photo IDs: 2295-2296)
White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys
Golden-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia atricapilla
