Looks like it might be an armyworm to me.

Thanks for the response. I actually went to google first and came up empty handed. I even came across the key you linked to and was unsuccessful. Perhaps I should give it another try.

Where I've lived in CA, they mostly inhabit lawns and rarely cause enough damage to bother with.

It's probably a tobacco budworm. They will turn pink when they eat red flowers. Tobacco Budworm Sherry