Golden-crowned and White-throated Sparrow breeding ranges are separated
in wc Alberta only by the gap between lowland forests on the eastern
slope and the subalpine habitats preferred by Golden-crowneds there, I
believe. Hybridization is possible.

Gene.

On Tue, 23 Jan 1996, Alvaro Jaramillo wrote:

> Michael Hobbs wrote:
>
> >In the National Geographic guide, there's a picture of a "tan-stripe
> >phase" of the White-throated Sparrow that could be what you described.
> >It looks in the book like a cross between a GCSP and a WTSP.
> >
>
> and Louise Martell wrote:
>
> Your bird sounds like a white-throated sparrow. They are much more
> >common in the Midwest than here in the Northwest.
>
> I often get to vote on sightings as a member of various committees and I
> have been quite dubious about some reports and certain identifications
> others have made. However, I have become almost accustomed to making an
> identification and having the local folks believe me without much
> difficulty, so it is very healthy to receive two back to back messages
> questioning what I saw. The bird did come back and allowed me to ask two
> question:
>
> why isn't it a White-throated Sparrow and
> why isn't it a Golden-crowned Sparrow.
>
> I think I can answer both of these questions.
>
> First, it is not a White-throated Sparrow because:
>
> - its too large
> - while the throat is white, it does not contrast with the breast and neck
> as much as it should, there is no dark outline to the white throat.
> - the central crown stripe is yellow at its extreme anterior point (at the
> start of the culmen)
> - the dark eye line is a bold and thick at its rear end, but it dissapears
> just before it reaches the eye.
> -the head is slightly peaked, unlike the rounded head of a White-throat.
> - the back is not as rusty as on a typical White-throated Sparrow.
>
>
> Second, its not a Golden-crown because:
>
> - the yellow at the front of the supercillium is too bright and extensive.
> - the yellow on the central crown stripe is not extensive enough.
> - it has a dark eye-line.
> - the supercilium is broader than on nearby Golden-crowns.
> - the lateral crown stripes are placed higher up on the head than on a
> Golden-crown, therefore restricting the central crown stripe to a thin, not
> wide band.
> - the white throat is more obvious than on other Golden-crowns, its pure white.
> - the breast is too grey for a Golden-crown, lacking a brown wash.
> - the wings appear too short (primary extension) for a Golden-crown.
> - the posterior end of the central crown stripe is unstreaked,
> Golden-crowns have streaked central crown stripes as they approach the nape
> (at least the dull Golden-crowns).
> - The bill looks a litte small for a Golden-crown.
>
> In most features this bird looks smack dab in the middle, between a
> Golden-crown and a White-throated Sparrow. I have been able to get a couple
> of more photos, hopefully they will turn out.
>
> Michael and Louise, thanks for focusing my attention by making your suggestions.
>
> Good birding,
>
> Alvaro Jaramillo "You are better off not knowing
> Half Moon Bay, CA how sausages and laws are made"
> alvaro at quake.net Otto von Bismarck,
> but I saw it in a fortune cookie!
>
> http://www.quake.net/~alvaro/index.html
>
>