Partially white White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys), Santa Gertrudis Lane, Santa Cruz County

This partially white White-crowned Sparrow was found and photographed by Chuck Hurst on 19 January 1201

This sparrow shows unusual white patches on the rump, scapulars, alula, secondaries, on the face, and covering the crown and much of the nape. Despite this, the overall color and pattern, structure, and bill color are typical of White-crowned Sparrow. White-crowned Sparrows show plumage irregularities such as partial leucism fairly regularly. The plumage patterns of this bird could be caused by partial leucism or other factors such as progressive graying.

19 January 1201, photo by Chuck Hurst

All photos are copyrighted© by photographer