White-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia leucophrys
白冠带鹀
Introduction
A medium-sized passerine bird in the New World sparrow family (Passerellidae). Native to North America, breeding in brushy areas across northern Canada and the western United States, including the taiga, tundra, Rocky Mountains, and Pacific coast regions. Distinguished by its grey face and black-and-white streaking on the crown. Northern populations are migratory, wintering across most of North America south to central Mexico, while southerly populations in the Rockies and coast are largely resident. Known for its remarkable unihemispheric slow-wave sleep capability during migration.
Description
A medium-sized sparrow with bold black and white stripes on the crown, a gray face, and brown-streaked upperparts. The wings are brown with bars, and underparts are gray. The tail is relatively long. The bill is pink or yellow. Similar in size and structure to the white-throated sparrow but lacks that species' white throat patch and yellow lores. Adults have more contrasting plumage than the muted tones of immature birds. 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).
Identification
Best identified by the bold black and white stripes on the crown combined with a plain gray face. The lack of white throat markings and yellow lores distinguishes it from the similar white-throated sparrow. The combination of gray face, streaked brown upperparts, and gray underparts in a medium-sized sparrow is characteristic. Juveniles show more muted, less contrasting plumage than adults.
Distribution & Habitat
Breeds across northern Canada in taiga and tundra regions, and in the western United States through the Rocky Mountains and Pacific coast states. Northern populations migrate south to the southern United States and northern Mexico for winter. Southerly breeding populations in the Rockies and Pacific coast are largely resident year-round. The nominate subspecies nuttalli is a permanent resident in California. A rare vagrant to western Europe, with recorded sightings in England, Scotland, Ireland, and Norway, including a 2008 sighting at Cley next the Sea, Norfolk, England.
Behavior & Ecology
Forages on the ground or in low vegetation, occasionally making short flights to catch flying insects. Diet consists primarily of seeds, plant material, and insects. Forms loose flocks during winter. Breeds in shrubby areas, building nests either low in bushes or on the ground under dense shrub cover. Clutch size is three to five eggs, which are brown-marked and range from gray to greenish-blue in color. Exhibits unihemispheric slow-wave sleep, remaining half-awake for up to two weeks during migration. Songs are affected by human activity and noise pollution according to recent research.
Conservation
Not specifically assessed in the provided source material.
Culture
A 2008 sighting in Cley next the Sea, Norfolk, England was commemorated with an image of the bird included in a stained glass window at St Margaret's Church. This represents the only documented cultural reference in the source material.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Passerellidae
- Genus
- Zonotrichia
- eBird Code
- whcspa
Subspecies (5)
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Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii
breeds northern Alaska and northern Yukon to south-central Canada; winters to northern Mexico
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Zonotrichia leucophrys leucophrys
breeds central and eastern Canada to Newfoundland; winters to southeastern USA, Cuba, and Jamaica
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Zonotrichia leucophrys nuttalli
coastal central California (Mendocino County to Santa Barbara County)
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Zonotrichia leucophrys oriantha
breeds mountains of southwestern Canada to southwestern USA; winters to southern Baja California and central Mexico
-
Zonotrichia leucophrys pugetensis
breeds coastal southwestern British Columbia to northwestern California; winters to southwestern California
Data Sources
Species description from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Taxonomy data from AviList 2025.