White-crowned Sparrow
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| Zonotrichia leucophrys (Forster, 1772) |
The White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) is a medium-sized sparrow native to North America.
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[edit] Appearance
Adults are 18 cm (7 in) long and have black and white stripes on their head, a grey face, brown streaked upper parts and a long tail. The wings are brown with bars and the underparts are grey. Their bill is pink or yellow. They are similar in appearance to the White-throated Sparrow but do not have the white throat markings.
[edit] Breeding
Their breeding habitat is brushy areas across northern Canada and the western United States. They nest either low in bushes or on the ground under shrubs and lay 3-5 brown-marked grey or greenish-blue eggs.
[edit] Subspecies
There are five currently recognized subspecies of white-crowned sparrow (pugetensis, gambelii, nuttalli, oriantha, and leucophrys), varying in migratory behaviour and breeding habitat. The Nuttall's subspecies are permanent residents in California, while the Gambel's subspecies may migrate as far as the Arctic Circle during the summer breeding season. Northern birds migrate to the southern United States.
[edit] Vagrancy
White-crowned Sparrow is a very rare vagrant to western Europe. One was present in County Cork, Ireland in May 2003.[2] Another was found in Norfolk, England in January 2008.[3]
[edit] Behavior
These birds forage on the ground or in low vegetation, but sometimes make short flights to catch flying insects. They mainly eat seeds, other plant parts and insects. In winter, they often forage in flocks.
The song of the White-crowned Sparrow has been much studied because of its many dialects, but the pugetensis subspecies sounds similar to "You can't come and catch me!"[citation needed]
[edit] Images
_Morro_Bay,_CA_29j_(2232004154).jpg/120px-White-crowned_Sparrow_(Zonotrichia_leucophrys;_nuttalli)_Morro_Bay,_CA_29j_(2232004154).jpg) |
 Adult White-crowned Sparrow |
 The juvenile (first winter) plumage is more muted than the adult |
 A nuttalli subspecies specimen from Point Lobos State Reserve, California |
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[edit] References
- ^ BirdLife International (2004). Zonotrichia leucophrys. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
- ^ Hussey, Harry (2003) The White-crowned Sparrow in County Cork. Birding World 16(5): 203-5
- ^ Rare bird found in coastal garden. BBC News Website (2008-01-09). Retrieved on 2008-01-09.
- Byers, Olsson and Curson, Buntings and Sparrows ISBN 1-873403-19-4
[edit] External links
- White-crowned Sparrow Species Account - Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- White-crowned Sparrow - Zonotrichia leucophrys - USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter
- White-crowned Sparrow Information and Photos - South Dakota Birds and Birding
- White-crowned Sparrow videos on the Internet Bird Collection
- White-crowned Sparrow photo gallery VIREO
[edit] Further reading
[edit] Books
- Chilton, G., M. C. Baker, C. D. Barrentine, and M. A. Cunningham. 1995. White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys). In The Birds of North America, No. 183 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, and The American Ornithologists’ Union, Washington, D.C.
- Kroodsma DE, Baker MC, Baptista LF & Petrinovich L. (1985). Vocal "dialects" in Nuttall's white-crowned sparrow. In Johnston, R F [Editor] Current Ornithology 103-133, 1985. Plenum Press, 233 Spring Street, New York, New York.
