An adult White-crowned Sparrow on a branchAn adult White-crowned Sparrow on a branch – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/1000, ISO 320, +1.0 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Yesterday I was able to photograph juvenile and adult White-crowned Sparrows on the same branch a few minutes apart at a gate at Farmington Bay WMA. It would have made for a great comparison of plumage had they been perched right next to each other in the same frame but I like the setting of the apple tree branch with other out of focus branches and sky in the background.

Juvenile White-crowned Sparrow on a branchA juvenile White-crowned Sparrow on a branch – Nikon D810, f8, 1/1000, ISO 320, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

By looking at both White-crowned Sparrow images on the same page it is easy to understand why adult and juvenile White-crowned Sparrows can be mistaken for two different species of sparrows because of the differences in their plumage. The juvenile pictured above will start to molt into its adult plumage in just a few months and by the fall will look just like the adult.

This time of the year Farmington Bay WMA has loads of these sparrows foraging and singing in the area.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my White-crowned Sparrow photos plus facts and information about this species.