White-crowned Sparrow

Zonotrichia leucophrys

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Identification

Field notes

18 cm (7") Common throughout North America; more abundant in west. Boreal forests, shrubs, parks, roadsides.

Boldly striped black-and-white crown. Clear gray breast. Pink, yellowish or orange bill. Erect posture. Similar White-throated Sparrow has a contrasting white throat with yellow between eye and dark bill.

Song: begins with clear plaintive whistle and ends with a husky trilled whistle; loud "pink" and "tseep" calls.

Watch and learn

Videos

2 videos

White-crowned Sparrow in Maine

Credit: Wild Bird and Nature Videos by McElroy Productions

White-crowned Sparrow

Credit: Don DesJardin

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 2 rules

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

White-crowned Sparrow

2 rules

Rule 1 15 criteria confidence 3

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 colour was the BILL ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · 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
Was the HEAD striped ?: Yes · 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 ?: Northeastern Canada or United States · Southeastern United States

result:181-white-crowned-sparrow:1:1 Source: 181 White-crowned Sparrow, row 1

Rule 2 15 criteria confidence 7

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 colour was the BILL ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · 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
Was the HEAD striped ?: Yes · 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:181-white-crowned-sparrow:2:1 Source: 181 White-crowned Sparrow, row 2