Breeding plumage - May 17, 2011
Credit: Rick Leche

North American field guide

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Zonotrichia atricapilla

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Identification

Field notes

18 cm (7") Fairly common. Western North America. Summer; in western Canada found in boreal scrub and spruce. Winter: Pacific States found in dense woodlands, tangles and brush.

Resembles, and often seen in winter with, White-crowned Sparrow. However, Golden-crowned has a yellow capped black crown instead of a black and white streaked crown. Brown streaked back. Clear whitish and uniform underparts.

Song: several descending plaintive whistled notes "oh-dear-me".

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Videos

2 videos
Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 1 rule

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Golden-crowned Sparrow

1 rule
Rule 1 14 criteria confidence 4
What SIZE was the TAIL ?
Medium · Long · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?
Square or slightly notched at the end · Rounded at the end · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?
None · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ?
Streaked, mottled, spotted, or barred · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?
Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?
Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?
Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What were the EYE markings if any ?
Light STRIPE OVER, BEHIND or THROUGH the eye · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?
Yellow · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?
Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?
Sparrow-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?
Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States
result:183-golden-crowned-sparrow:1:1 Source: 183 Golden-crowned Sparrow, row 1