White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

In much of the United States, White-crowned Sparrows turn up in brushy yards and fields for winter. Adults have crisp black-and-white head stripes; young birds wear brown head stripes instead.

Appearance

Appearance: A large sparrow with a long tail, small bill, plain gray breast, and bold head stripes. It is about 6 in (15–16 cm) long.
Voice: The song opens with a clear whistle, then shifts into buzzes or trills.

Look-alikes

White-throated SparrowZonotrichia albicollis

Look for the White-throated Sparrow’s bright white throat and yellow spots in front of the eyes. White-crowned Sparrows lack both.

Golden-crowned SparrowZonotrichia atricapilla

An adult Golden-crowned Sparrow has a yellow crown stripe, not the White-crowned Sparrow’s bold white-and-black stripes.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: brushy fields
roadside thickets
coastal scrub
Range: Winter visitor across much of the United States; some populations stay year-round along the Pacific Coast and in western mountains.
Seasonal presence: Winter visitor in much of the U.S.; year-round in parts of the West.
When it’s recorded: Recorded year-round, every year
76,202 observations in the US · 10 years · for referenceChoose a state

Behavior

Diet: It eats grass and weed seeds, with more insects during summer.

Life cycle

Nest: A female builds a cup nest low in shrubs or on tundra ground.
Clutch size: 3–7 eggs
Incubation: 10–14 days

Name and classification

About the name: Its include Nuttall’s coastal form and Gambel’s northern form.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: LCLeast ConcernLow risk of extinction

9 sources