ID: Oregon and Slate-colored forms of Dark-eyed Juncos at Lake Cuyamaca

I spotted an obvious male Slate-colored Junco at Lake Cuyamaca on November 5th. It was feeding on some grain thrown on the ground at the bait shop. I have never really explored that part of Lake Cuyamaca as the $10 day use fee seemed more than I wanted to pay for a visit that would only last an hour-and-a-half. But, guess what? It seems somehow I am old enough to earn something called a "senior discount." I'm only worth $5 now.

I followed around a flock of Dark-eyed Juncos down by the shoreline hoping for Gray-headed, Pink-sided, or Cassiar juncos. But I didn't find any of those forms of Dark-eyed Juncos. The Oregon form is the common one here, but so pale compared to the dark rusty-brown ones I grew up with in Oregon. The sides, especially, are so pale and restricted compared to those northern birds. Here, let me show you from previous posts to my blogs:

Gray-headed, Slate-colored, and Oregon juncos in December 2016 in San Diego here.
Cassiar juncos in March and April 2011 in Oregon here.
Oregon junco in November 2007 in Oregon here.

So here are photos from Lake Cuyamaca.

First is a series of male Oregon juncos that match the resident form, thurberi, that is paler on sides and not as dark rusty brown on back as more northern races.

Here, then is a female Oregon Junco. It matches the male except the head is pale gray. Note the sides are pinkish-buff.

Next is the male Slate-colored Junco with dark slate sides. There is no contrast between the hood and back or sides (a mark that would indicate Cassiar Junco).

Finally is this pale female Slate-colored Junco. There is no sharp contrast between the head and back, so not Cassiar Junco. The sides are gray, so not Oregon or Pink-sided Junco. And the back is not bright rusty, so not Gray-headed Junco. Oh, and no white wing bars, so not a White-winged Junco.