White-crowned Sparrow

(Zonotrichia leucophrys)

Conservation Status
White-crowned Sparrow
Photo by Gregory Gilman
  IUCN Red List

LC - Least Concern

 
  NatureServe

N5B, N5N - Secure Breeding and Nonbreeding

SNA - Not applicable

 
  Minnesota

not listed

 
           
           
           
           
           
 
Description
 
 

 

 
     
 

Size

 
 

5½ to 7 in length

9½ wingspan

 
     
 

Voice

 
   
     
 

Similar Species

 
     
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Forest edges and clearings, shrubby meadows, bogs, and thickets

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Migration

 
 

Late April to early June and early September to late November

 
     
 

Nesting

 
 

 

 
     
 

Food

 
 

 

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Occurrence

 
 

Uncommon to locally common migrant

 
         
 

Maps

 
 

The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Class Aves (birds)  
 

Order

Passeriformes (perching birds)  
 

Family

Passerellidae (New World sparrows)  
 

Genus

Zonotrichia (crowned sparrows)  
       
 

New World sparrows were traditionally combined with buntings into the family Emberizidae. Recent phylogenetic analysis (Barker et al. 2013) and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis (Klicka et al. 2014) found that the Old World buntings should be separated as a sister to New World sparrows. New World sparrows have been separated into a new family, Passerellidae.

 
       
 

Subordinate Taxa

 
 

Eastern White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys leucophrys)

Gambel’s White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii)

Mountain White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys oriantha)

Nuttall’s White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys nuttalli)

Puget Sound White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys pugetensis)

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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Gregory Gilman

 
    White-crowned Sparrow      
 

Bill Reynolds

 
    White-crowned Sparrow      
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

 

 
           

 

Camera

 

     
 
Slideshows
 
  White-crowned Sparrow
Allen Chartier
 
  White-crowned Sparrow  
  White-crowned Sparrow
Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren
 
  White-crowned Sparrow  
  Eastern White-crowned Sparrow
JMC Nature Photos
 
  Eastern White-crowned Sparrow  

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

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Other Videos
 
  White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys), Dorena Genetic Resource Center, Oregon, USA
Rob Mutch
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Dec 15, 2011

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-crowned_Sparrow

Encyclopedia of Life (EOL): http://eol.org/pages/1052728/overview

   
  White-crowned Sparrow in Maine
WIld Bird Video Productions
 
   
 
About

Published on May 15, 2012

Here in Maine we only see white-crowned sparrows during spring and fall migration. I always have a few stop to feed during their lengthy migration. They're especially fond of the seeds of dandy lions growing in the lawn. © 2012 Garth McElroy. www.wildbirdvideos.com

Licsense my content at paya.com
http://www.paya.com/seller/111

License at http://www.paya.com/videos/135183

   
  White crowned Sparrow.avi
Gordon Wildman
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Apr 20, 2010

White-crowned Sparrows in and around the Portland Oregon area.

   
  White-crowned Sparrow
naturalist97333
 
   
 
About

Published on Mar 18, 2011

White-crowned Sparrows are common in western Oregon. Adults have black and white head stripes. Fledglings are brown and streaky, and soon thereafter, immature birds look similar to adults but have tan and brown head stripes. They have sweet songs that vary between individuals and from place to place.

   
  White-crowned Sparrow in Maine - II
WIld Bird Video Productions
 
   
 
About

Published on May 20, 2013

It's always great to hear white-crowned sparrows sing on their way north!

License at http://www.paya.com/videos/1128088

   

 

Camcorder

 
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

Report a sighting of this bird.

 
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  Lori
5/1/2023

Location: St. Cloud, MN

There were 2 in my Lilac bushes below my window feeder.

 
  Doug McEvers
1/8/2023

Location: 3 miles NE of Barnesville, MN

We have a White Crowned Sparrow here for the last several weeks. Sighted again today (1-8-2023) under our bird feeders. Our farm is located 3 miles NE of Barnesville, MN.

 
  Lynn
10-11-2021

Location: 4 miles east of Deerwood Mn.

foraging on edge of grave driveway out in countryside old Farmstead, 2 days now, finding seed from plants.

 
  Ann
5/14/2019

Location: Minneapolis

Today: Visited my feeder (Black oil sunflowers) A week ago: Foraged on the ground in the bushes. Neat to see!

 
  Phil
5/17/2019

Location: Cloquet, MN

First time I have seen this bird at the feeder in front of my house which hosts a lot of regular sparrows and chickadees

 
  Natalie K
4/22/2019

Location: South Saint Paul

First time ever seeing one! Foraging in the backyard wood chip area.

 
  Verna
4/30/2017

Location: Plymouth, Minnesota

First time spotting this one at our feeder!

   
  LoriMinnesota
4/26/2017

Location: Arlington, Minnesota (Sibley County)

First time I ever saw one in Minnesota.

   
  Helen
4/26/2016

Location: St. Paul

   
  Deb
4/25/2016

Location: SE Rochester, MN

   
  Bill Reynolds
5/15/2011

Location: Pennington County

White-crowned Sparrow  
  Gregory Gilman
1/19/2011

Location: Rochester, MN

White-crowned Sparrow  
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
   

 

 

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