From below, birders would look up at a white and gray striped breast and wings. When perched, the bird has gray wings and a gray back, with a pronounced white stripe above its red eyes.

One of the most common winter sparrows, the white-crowned typically occurs in flocks, which may involve more than 100 birds ... pale gray underparts. Adult: black-and-white striped crown.

In fall and winter, it regularly forms small mixed-species flocks, but a single flock rarely includes more than 6 white-­breasteds. Commonly seen at bird ... gray, similar in color to the blue ...