Twitching the Golden-crowned Sparrow

Last Thurs, Anne Straight found an adult Golden-crowned Sparrow in the little town of Scioto Mills in far northern IL.  

Golden-crowned Sparrows normally live strictly on the west coast.  They are regular winter residents in California and their breeding range stretches from Oregon all the way north through the middle of Alaska.  The Latin name (Zonotrichia Atricapillus) means "The Banded Thrush with black hair on it's head."   A very appropriate name for this bird with it's double band of black surrounding a golden-yellow crown patch. 

Luke and I arrived shortly before 10:00 this morning and walked down the Jane Addams trail. We quickly found the location and checked for the bird. No go.  So we walked back to the road, and walked down the on the road side of the row of houses, above the trail. We had walked down just as far as before and were watching the back yard of the house when I noticed a largeish Zonotrichia type Sparrow out of the corner of my eye.  I raised my binocs and saw the black band on the head. My very first thought was "That's a really weird White-throated Sparrow."  Then it clicked.  This was the GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW!!!  Luke had seen it only a second later than I did and got on it right away. After watching it for a second, we both started clicking away like mad.  I managed to get a few decent photos: 

It's a typical Zonotrichia Sparrow. They like to hang out with others of the same genus if possible. This one was hanging out with a couple of White-throated Sparrows. 

This was my 529th life bird!!!  While not a nemesis bird, I've been wanting to see this bird for some time now. I'm really glad I finally saw one, after missing them several times out west. 

Who knows when my next "Twitch" will be. Next one I have planned is the Sinaloa Wren at Huachuca Canyon in Southern Arizona.  That won't be for a couple weeks though. 

Til then, Happy Birding! 

Golden-crowned Sparrow near Freeport, IL!!!

Must be a week for rare birds.  First the Thrasher in Minneapolis, then the Wren in Huachuca canyon and now this Sparrow in Freeport, IL.  

As usual, here's the report on IBET: 

A male GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW was spotted this morning at 10:30am. in 
Stephenson County. It was viewed by 5 of us on the Jane Addams Trail south 
of Scioto Mills Rd about 200 or so yards down the trail. This area is north 
of Freeport and a little west. There is a fenced in garden on the left (up 
on a banked area) and the bird was in some brushy area on the right. When 
the rest of the group went there about an hour later we did not relocate. 
One person did take a photo if it needs doumentation. This is west of Rt. 26 
and north of Rt. 20. Delorme page 16. North of Duck's Misery.

Anne Straight
Forreston, IL (Ogle County)
astraight@worldnet. att.net 

The approximate location is here. 

Just a little ways farther south on the trail mentioned above.  

Good luck if you go after it.  If it shows up again, I'm chasing it. 

Happy Birding!