About the White-crowned Sparrow
The white-crowned sparrow is a species of passerine bird native to North America. A medium-sized member of the New World sparrow family, this species is marked by a grey face and black and white streaking on the upper head. It breeds in brushy areas in the taiga and tundra of the northernmost parts of the continent and in the Rocky Mountains and Pacific coast. While southerly populations in the Rocky Mountains and coast are largely resident, the breeding populations of the northerly part of its range are migratory and can be found as wintering or passage visitors through most of North America south to central Mexico.
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ID tip
Adults have black and white stripes on their head, a gray face, brown streaked upper parts and a long tail. The wings are brown with bars and the underparts are gray. Their bill is pink or yellow. They are similar in appearance to the white-throated sparrow, but do not have the white throat markings or yellow lores. Measurements: Length: 5.9–6.3 in (15–16 cm) Weight: 0.9–1.0 oz (25–28 g) Wingspan: 8.3–9.4 in (21–24 cm)
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
What the White-crowned Sparrow sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Norway, Colombia, Costa Rica, Belize, Japan, Portugal, France, Guatemala, Russia.
When to see it
Peak activity in May · a variable species across most of its range
Easily confused with
White-throated SparrowZonotrichia albicollisThe white-throated sparrow is a passerine bird of the New World sparrow family Passerellidae.
Golden-crowned SparrowZonotrichia atricapillaMeasuring 15–18 cm (6–7 in) in length with a wingspan of 24.75 cm (9.74 in) and ranging from 19.0 to 35.4 g (0.67 to 1.25 oz) in mass, the adult golden-crowned sparrow is fairly large for an American sparrow.
Rufous-collared SparrowZonotrichia capensisThe rufous-collared sparrow is 13.5–15 cm (5+1⁄4–6 in) long and weighs 20–25 g (0.71–0.88 oz).
Side by side: White-crowned Sparrow vs White-throated Sparrow · Golden-crowned Sparrow vs White-crowned Sparrow · Rufous-collared Sparrow vs White-crowned Sparrow · Harris's Sparrow vs White-crowned Sparrow
Learn the White-crowned Sparrow for real
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