White-crowned Sparrow

Zonotrichia leucophrys

Least Concern · IUCN Red List

LCLeast ConcernSeedsShrublandCup nestSmall · 28 g

What the White-crowned Sparrow sounds like

Sonogram of the White-crowned Sparrow: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.
Recorded by Davyd Betchkal · Song · Estrada's Camp, Alagnak Wild River, United States · CC0 · via xeno-canto
Sonogram of the White-crowned Sparrow: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.
Recorded by NPS Alaska · Song · Gates of the Arctic Visitor Center, Bettles, Alaska, United States · CC0 · via xeno-canto
Sonogram of the White-crowned Sparrow: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.
Recorded by NPS Alaska · Song · Chena Hot Springs parking lot, United States · CC0 · via xeno-canto

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.

When to see the White-crowned Sparrow

One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 9 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is May, the month with the most records.

Where to see the White-crowned Sparrow

Regular rangeRare visitor

The map shades 8 countries with regular records, and 11 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.

Recorded as a rare visitor in United Kingdom, Norway, Colombia, Costa Rica, Belize, Ireland, Japan, Portugal, France, Guatemala, Russia.

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.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Easily confused with

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

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