White-crowned Sparrow

Adults have striking black-and-white stripes on the crown, a grey face, breast, and collar, and brown-streaked upperparts. Juveniles have similar patterns on the head, but the white stripes are replaced by reddish-brown and tan. Sexes are visually similar.

Distinctive bold black-and-white stripes on the head, clean grey breast, and pink or yellowish bill.

Length: 15–18 cm (5.9–7.1 in), Wingspan: 20–25 cm (7.9–9.8 in), Weight: 25–35 g (0.9–1.2 oz)

Song is a sweet, mournful series of clear whistles and trills starting with a high whistle. Calls include a sharp, metallic 'pink' or 'tsip'.

Primarily seeds, weed grains, and buds; during the breeding season and for feeding young, they consume many insects and spiders.

Brushy thickets, forest edges, chaparral, suburban gardens, and agricultural hedgerows.

Short to medium-distance migrant; northern populations move south for the winter, while western populations are often permanent residents.

Builds an open cup nest of grass, twigs, and moss usually on the ground or low in a shrub. Lays 3 to 5 pale greenish or bluish eggs heavily marked with brown.

White-throated Sparrow, which has a white throat patch and yellow spots near the lores; Golden-crowned Sparrow, which features a golden-yellow patch on the crown.

Acts as an important seed disperser and helps control insect populations during the breeding season.

Least Concern, with a stable population trend.

Look for them in brushy areas, edges of forests, and suburban gardens, especially near cover. They readily visit ground-level or platform bird feeders offering seeds.

White-crowned Sparrows are famous subjects for neurobiological research due to the complex learning involved in acquiring their regional dialects.