White-crowned Sparrow

(Zonotrichia leucophrys)

Conservation Status
IUCN Red List

LC - Least Concern

NatureServe

N5B, N5N - Secure Breeding and Nonbreeding

SNA - Not applicable

Minnesota

not listed

 
White-crowned Sparrow
Photo by Gregory Gilman
 
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
 

Share your photo of this bird.

 

This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Attach one or more photos and, if you like, a caption.

 

   

 

   

 

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
 

Share your video of this bird.

 

This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Attach a video, a YouTube link, or a cloud storage link.

 

 

 
 
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.

 

This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Be sure to include a location.

CF
5/4/2024

Location: Adrian, MN.

Was a joy to see them in my yard

Scott
4/29/2024

Location: Chatfield,  Minnesota

This is the first time I have seen the White-crowned Sparrow. 

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

 

 

Binoculars

 

Created:

Last Updated:

© MinnesotaSeasons.com. All rights reserved.

About Us

Privacy Policy

Contact Us