Golden crowned sparrows

Look who is visiting the backyard - a golden crowned sparrow!

They migrate as far south as Baja, California in the winter from southern British Columbia.

This sparrow is a "first winter" golden crowned sparrow, very young.

Apparently they prefer to be in the hills of coastal California, because in the 20-plus years I lived in the Berkeley flatlands I never saw one of these.

I always feel honored when I see migrating birds visiting in the garden.