How many primary stripes define the adult White-crowned Sparrow crown pattern?
Answer
Five primary stripes are visible
The defining physical characteristic of the adult White-crowned Sparrow is the pattern atop its head, which features alternating stripes of black and white. Specifically, the pattern consists of five primary stripes visible when viewing the crown: there is one central white stripe, which is bordered on both sides by a black stripe. Outside of the black stripe is a thinner white stripe, and the outermost stripe is black, meeting the gray sides of the head. This configuration of five distinct stripes is key to its immediate identification in the field.
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