What bill color typically distinguishes the White-crowned Sparrow from the White-throated Sparrow?
Answer
Pale (pinkish or yellowish) vs. Darker (grayish)
When trying to separate the White-crowned Sparrow from its close relative, the White-throated Sparrow, bill color serves as a useful non-plumage field mark. White-crowned Sparrows generally possess a relatively pale bill, often appearing pinkish or yellowish in hue. In contrast, the White-throated Sparrow tends to present a darker, grayish bill. This difference in bill pigmentation can be critical when observing birds in mixed winter flocks where other features might be obscured.
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