Cheeks, supercilium, and nape light gray. Complete or mostly complete black crown. Black extends into the beginning portion of the malar as well as the lores and supraloral.
Non-breeding Adult
Black throat is a mark of an adult. Black crown is scalloped with white edging. Cheeks and nape brown. Malar, supraloral and lores mostly brown
Shape Profile:
One of our largest Sparrows. Bulky chest with large squared head typical of the genus. Medium long, slightly rounded tails.
Head Profile:
Large thick based bright orange bill. Large somewhat flat-topped squared head. Unique variable black “mask”
Breast / Belly / Flank Pattern:
Splotchy black bib that extends down just to the middle of the breast. Flanks showing a mix of thick dark rusty and black streaking on tannish backing in non-breeding/immature birds and thick black streaking on buff to grayish flanks in breeding adults.
Back Pattern:
Thick black streaking on a goldish brown background. Wing coverts show the black centered white edged “dotted” wingbar appearance typical of the genus. Rump brownish.
Breeding plumage:
Black extends from the crown down the face onto the breast and back to just midway to the eye.
Non – breeding plumage:
Cheeks and supercilium brown, non-contrasting in color to each other. Eyestripe rusty orange, thin, and ending in a sideways chevron shape that runs parallel with the nape. Malar slightly lighter brown than cheek. Contrasting black throat.
First winter plumage:
Average less black in the crown and show a contrasting pale throat.
Behavior:
Typically found in small to large flocks that are mostly pure but occasionally with other sparrow species often those of the same genus. Can occasionally be found solitary. Searches for food by scratching with both feet in small but fairly forceful backwards hoping motion. Can be heard giving a loud series of descending whistles followed by short buzzes nearing the end of their wintering months.
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