This Morning Outsideby Diane PorterNovember 25, 2010 This first-fall white-crowned sparrow is molting. Its head feathers show a little bit of the black-and white pattern it will grow into during the winter. Both sparrow photos copyright 2010 Michael and Diane Porter An adult white-crowned sparrow has two black stripes on its crown, separated by a white stripe. Like the one at left. Young white-crowned sparrows have tan stripes, separated by a lighter, buffy stripe. The bird above is part way through the process of exchanging its juvenile plumage for adult feathers. Adolescence. Such a time of mixed signals! —Diane Porter
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