Perching

White-crowned Sparrow

Zonotrichia leucophrys

White-crowned Sparrow thumbnail

Length: 7 in. (18 cm )

During the winter, this handsome and large sparrow commonly moves through open scrub lands, weedy agricultural fields and suburban areas in large flocks, often together with four or five other species of sparrows. Here they eat grass seeds and occasionally fruits. During the summer, pairs of these sparrows can be found in open habitats ranging from coastal shrubs to alpine and tundra meadows. Here they feed on insects grass shoots and moss capsules.

The four-digit banding code is WCSP.

Male | Robert Shantz

Female | Oliver Niehuis

Agricultural

Chaparral

Desert

Mesquite bosque

Riparian / River forest

Savanna

Shrubs

Urban city

Download Sound

Bird Sound Type: Twittering
Sex of Bird: Male

Sonogram Large:

Sonogram Zoom:

Download Sound

Sonogram Large:

There are no sonograms saved for this bird.

Sonogram Zoom:

There are no sonograms saved for this bird.

Download Sound

Sonogram Large:

There are no sonograms saved for this bird.

Sonogram Zoom:

There are no sonograms saved for this bird.

Download Sound

Sonogram Large:

There are no sonograms saved for this bird.

Sonogram Zoom:

There are no sonograms saved for this bird.

View Citation

You may need to edit author's name to meet the style formats, which are in most cases "Last name, First name."

Bibliographic details:

Article: White-crowned Sparrow
Author(s): Dr. Biology
Publisher: Arizona State University School of Life Sciences Ask A Biologist
Site name: ASU - Ask A Biologist
Date published: July 13, 2017
Date accessed: February 22, 2020
Link: https://askabiologist.asu.edu/activities/bird/white-crowned-sparrow

APA Style

Dr. Biology. (2017, July 13). White-crowned Sparrow. ASU - Ask A Biologist. Retrieved February 22, 2020 from https://askabiologist.asu.edu/activities/bird/white-crowned-sparrow

American Psychological Association. For more info, see http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/10/

Chicago Manual of Style

Dr. Biology. "White-crowned Sparrow". ASU - Ask A Biologist. 13 July, 2017. https://askabiologist.asu.edu/activities/bird/white-crowned-sparrow

For more info, see http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/717/04/

MLA 2017 Style

Dr. Biology. "White-crowned Sparrow". ASU - Ask A Biologist. 13 Jul 2017. ASU - Ask A Biologist, Web. 22 Feb 2020. https://askabiologist.asu.edu/activities/bird/white-crowned-sparrow

Modern Language Association, 7th Ed. For more info, see http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/08/

Painted lady butterfly

Is a butterfly's brain the same as the one it had when it was a caterpillar?

Answer >>

Be Part of
Ask A Biologist

By volunteering, or simply sending us feedback on the site. Scientists, teachers, writers, illustrators, and translators are all important to the program. If you are interested in helping with the website we have a Volunteers page to get the process started.

Share to Google Classroom