Golden-crowned sparrow

Adults are 18 cm long. In the breeding season, it has a distinct gold patch on its head, flanked by two dark black stripes. When not breeding, its plumage is more variable, ranging from a small, dull gold patch and no black, to near-breeding season plumage.

The Golden-crowned sparrow is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

The Golden-crowned Sparrow is a western species that largely replaces the White-crowned Sparrow along the Pacific Coast and adjacent mountain areas. Golden-crowned Sparrows breed in alpine and tundra areas from Alaska to extreme northwest Washington. They frequent alder and willow thickets, or dwarf conifers, often above or beyond the tree line as long as there are sufficient numbers of small bushes and scrub. More

The Golden-crowned Sparrow, Zonotrichia atricapilla, is a medium-sized sparrow. It is slightly larger than the closely related White-crowned Sparrow. More

A Golden-crowned Sparrow sits in blackberry bushes in Tennessee Hollow. Natural History: The Golden-crowned Sparrow eats plant foods, foraging on the ground. It seeks cover in shrubs and nests on the ground adjacent to its cover. This species breeds in Canada during the summer and forms mixed flocks. General Distribution: In the Presidio, this species can be found in annual grasslands, coastal and dune scrub areas, all forested areas, on lawns, and amongst ornamentals. More

The Golden-crowned Sparrow is a medium-sized sparrow that breeds and nests in North America. This species breeds in northern and western Canada and Alaska. During colder months, this bird is migratory. These northern populations fly south to Vancouver Island in Canada and throughout the west coast of the United States. Nesting areas of the Golden-crowned Sparrow are shrublands above the treeline or localized coastal areas. More

White-crowned Sparrow, left, with Golden-crowned Sparrow on right. Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit. Image taken, March 5, 2008. April 12, 2008 ... April 12, 2008, Trip Log Image, 2008, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, click to enlarge Click image to enlarge Golden-crowned Sparrow. Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit. Image taken, April 12, 2008. April 20, 2007 ... More

Golden-crowned sparrow, and both of these would be present in clark co. WA at this time. Posted by: Colin | December 16, 2009 12:19 PM 4 It's not a poor photo: it's actually a realistic image of a Blur tit (Passer hypercaffeinata). Diagnostic field markings: blur. Diagnostic behavior: refer to image. More

Golden-crowned Sparrow - North American Range Map South Dakota Status: Extremely rare visitor in the state, with only a handful of records. More

Golden-crowned Sparrow is not as well known on its breeding grounds in northwestern Canada and Alaska. More

Adult Golden-crowned Sparrows have no white on the head, and the crown stripe is dull yellow, not white. Immature Golden-crowned Sparrows usually have some yellow on the crown, helping to distinguish them from immature White-crowned Sparrows, which they closely resemble. Female House Sparrows look a bit like immature White-crowned Sparrows, but they are smaller, shorter tailed, and smaller billed, with an unmarked face and no white on the wing. More

Because the Golden-crowned Sparrow is only here from August-March, chances are, we are unlikely to see him in his much more obvious breeding plumage. More

Golden-Crowned Sparrow Breeding on Vancouver Island. Canadian Field Naturalist. vol 89, no 2. p. 175-176. * Gorenzel WP, Mastrup SA & Fitzhugh EL. (1995). Characteristics of brushpiles used by birds in Northern California. Southwestern Naturalist. vol 40, no 1. p. 86-93. * Gwinner EG, Turek FW & Smith SD. (1971). More

Golden-crowned Sparrows don't breed in our area. However, some spend their off-breeding time in our area. Because they migrate with other birds, they often arrive in groups with White-crowned Sparrows. During spring equinox, we can have a few dozen Golden-crowned sparrows at our site.Research shows that Golden-crowned Sparrows find a territory during the middle of their first winter and return to it every year. An interesting fact about these birds is that each bird has its own feeding spot at the bird feeder. More

North American RangeThe Golden-crowned Sparrow has bright breeding plumage with a bright yellow crown flanked with bold, black bars. The yellow extends to the nape of the neck and then changes to whitish; the black covers the top half of the eye. The back is light brown with bold stripes. The rump is unstreaked and brownish-gray, with the color extending through the long tail. The wings are brightly patterned with two white wing-bars. The breast and belly are not streaked. More

Bent Life History for the Golden-crowned Sparrow - the common name and sub-species reflect the nomenclature in use at the time the description was written. GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW ZONOTRICHIA ATRICAPILLA (Gmelin) Contributed by JUNEA W. KELLY HABITS The strikingly handsome golden-crowned sparrow, the largest of the so-called "crowned" sparrows, is a bird of extreme western North America and many of the offshore islands. More

The Golden-crowned Sparrow is a large sparrow, with black-streaked, brownish upperparts, a gray face and underparts, and reddish-brown wings. A yellow forehead patch of variable size and brightness, and a thick, black line above the eye are distinctive features. Golden-crowned Sparrow Female - Sexes similar. Seasonal change in appearance - Duller overall, amount of black on the side of the head varies. More

The Golden-crowned Sparrow, Zonotrichia atricapilla, is a medium-sized sparrow. At 18 cm length, it is slightly larger than the closely related White-crowned Sparrow. In the breeding season, it has a distinct gold patch on its head, flanked by two dark black stripes. When not breeding, its plumage is more variable, ranging from a small, dull gold patch and no black, to near-breeding season plumage. The breeding habitat is across the north part of western Canada and the U.S. state of Alaska. More

Golden-crowned Sparrows breed in alpine and tundra areas from Alaska to extreme northwest Washington. They frequent alder and willow thickets, or dwarf conifers, often above or beyond the tree line as long as there are sufficient numbers of small bushes and scrub. The song of three, clear, whistled descending notes, (three blind mice or oh dear me) is sung by males from exposed perches. More