Besides the crown, what distinguishing facial feature is often noted on the White-crowned Sparrow's face?
Answer
A relatively plain face, often showing a pale eye-ring
While focusing on the crown is important, relying solely on it can lead to misidentification among numerous brown sparrows. A useful non-crown characteristic for quick confirmation is the facial appearance. White-crowned Sparrows typically possess a relatively plain face, which often includes a pale eye-ring. This plainness distinguishes them from highly streaked species, such as the Savannah Sparrow, where streaking is more pervasive across the face. This subtlety, combined with the clean breast, contributes to the overall physical picture.
Related Questions
How many primary stripes define the adult White-crowned Sparrow crown pattern?What characterizes the crown of Juvenile White-crowned Sparrows before first prebasic molt?What is the typical color of the bill in breeding adult White-crowned Sparrows?How do the breast and belly of the White-crowned Sparrow compare to the Song Sparrow's markings?Does the White-crowned Sparrow exhibit obvious sexual dimorphism in plumage?What phenomenon explains why northern Gambel’s subspecies tend to be slightly larger overall?What appears when a juvenile White-crowned Sparrow begins resolving toward first winter plumage?Why is observing the pale leg color helpful during field identification of the sparrow?What two pale markings are noticeable on the wings of the White-crowned Sparrow?Besides the crown, what distinguishing facial feature is often noted on the White-crowned Sparrow's face?