who are these brown birds?

[Ally]

I went to Centennial park and James Garden today. more flowers than birds. Got this strippy dark bird with the Cardinal, not sure who. 2nd one might be a cow bird.

[Canoncan]

Well if the male was feeding it, i would go with cowbird. However in that first picture the streaking is really contrasting against a very white looking breast.  The issue with photos are the light can look different as you captured one moment in time. Cowbird streaking in juveniles is usually a little more mottled and the breast not as bright white. However the second photo shows a different light. it also looks distinctly smaller than the cardinal. Top photo also looks like it has a distinct  white supercillium but the bill looks too big. I was thinking female purple finch, but i think it is a cowbird based on the second photo

[Ally]

Well if the male was feeding it, i would go with cowbird. However in that first picture the streaking is really contrasting against a very white looking breast.  The issue with photos are the light can look different as you captured one moment in time. Cowbird streaking in juveniles is usually a little more mottled and the breast not as bright white. However the second photo shows a different light. it also looks distinctly smaller than the cardinal. Top photo also looks like it has a distinct  white supercillium but the bill looks too big. I was thinking female purple finch, but i think it is a cowbird based on the second photo

Sorry I confused you. Those two are different birds, taken at two different parks.

[takkatakka]

I would go with Purple Finch for both of them.