Seet, seet, seet. I hear a high-pitched call coming from the bushes and my heart jumps for joy – our winter sparrows have arrived! I crouch down to take a peek at the activity on the ground while being careful to not disturb the birds and find one of my favorite winter sparrows: the Golden-crowned Sparrow.

This little, brown sparrow has a brilliant golden crown nestled in between two thick dark lines on its crown. During the winter the gold and black is turned down a notch in brightness for its non-breeding plumage, which is what we typically see in the Bay Area.

Watch for these sparrows in mixed flocks as they forage on the ground and trees for food. They are often found alongside White-crowned Sparrows which are remarkably similar but with white and black stripes down its head that looks like a skunk. I absolutely adore the songs of the Golden-crowned sparrows. To me it’s a melancholy yet sweet song that transports me to a cozy home in the winter.