Quick Answer
The female White-crowned Sparrow is a small songbird with distinctive black and white stripes on its crown. The female has more muted plumage compared to the male, with gray underparts, brown streaking on the back, and a paler face. The beak is conical and pinkish. Females are slightly smaller than males on average. The white crown stripes help distinguish White-crowned Sparrows from other similar sparrow species.
Identifying Features
The White-crowned Sparrow gets its name from the black and white stripes on top of its head. These crown stripes are a key identifying feature. Here are some more details on the female White-crowned Sparrow’s appearance:
Size and Shape
– Length: 15-17 cm
– Wingspan: 20-25 cm
– Small and round body shape overall
– Legs short and pinkish
Plumage and Markings
– Black and white stripes on the crown
– Back is brown streaked with black
– Underparts are gray, paler on the throat and belly
– There is a gray patch on the cheeks framed by faint black stripes
– Dark auriculars (cheek patches)
– Pinkish colored legs and feet
– Pinkish conical beak
Color Differences from Males
Females are more subdued and brownish overall compared to males. Key differences include:
– Paler face gray rather than jet black in males
– Underparts light gray rather than crisp white in males
– Crown stripes thinner and less distinct
– Brown back streaking more extensive compared to males
Similar Species
The White-crowned Sparrow needs to be distinguished from other sparrows with head stripes or otherwise similar plumage:
White-throated Sparrow
– Found in eastern North America
– Also has head stripes but they are white and yellow/tan
– Uniform gray underparts unlike the streaked back of the White-crowned
Golden-crowned Sparrow
– Breeds along the western coast
– Has bold yellow stripes on crown
– Gray cheeks and throat
Harris’s Sparrow
– Central North America migrant
– Has variable black markings on the head but no distinct stripes
– Pink bill unlike White-crowned’s yellowish bill
Geographic Range
The White-crowned Sparrow breeds in open scrubby habitat across Canada and Alaska. Their breeding range extends into the western and northeastern United States. They migrate to the southern United States and Mexico in winter.
Here is a map showing the breeding and wintering ranges of the White-crowned Sparrow:
| Breeding range | Wintering range |
Key facts about their range:
– Breed mainly in Alaska and Canada
– Parts of the western and northeastern US
– Migrate through the Great Plains and West Coast
– Winter along the southern US border and Mexico
Habitat
During the breeding season, White-crowned Sparrows inhabit open shrub habitat often interspersed with grassland. Typical nesting habitat includes:
– Forest clearings
– Recently burned or logged areas
– Mountain meadows
– Alpine scrubland
– Tundra
In migration and winter, they utilize:
– Fields
– Backyards
– Roadsides
– Brushy wetlands
They tend to avoid dense forest but can be found along forest edges. Access to low, dense vegetation for nesting is a key habitat requirement.
Diet
White-crowned Sparrows are omnivores that feed through ground scratching. Their diet consists of:
Seeds and Grains
– Weed seeds
– Grass seeds
– Grains from agricultural areas
Insects
– Beetles
– Caterpillars
– Ants
– Flies
– Larvae
Fruit
– Berries
– Wild grapes
They forage for insects more heavily while breeding to get enough protein. In winter, grain seeds and fruit from backyards can comprise more of the diet. They scratch the ground with both feet to uncover food items.
Behavior and Sounds
Social Behavior
White-crowned Sparrows are social, especially in winter flocks. They even synchronize their flock movements! During breeding they are territorial but may nest in loose colonies.
Flight and Movement
These sparrows fly in bursts with rapid wingbeats interspersed by short glides. Their flight is low and direct typically. On the ground they hop while foraging.
Sounds
Their most common call is a loud, clear whistle that sounds like “Oh dear me!” They sing a high buzzy trill during breeding. Other sounds include soft chips and chirps.
Breeding and Nesting
Nesting
The female White-crowned Sparrow builds the nest on the ground or in low vegetation. The nest is an open cup made of twigs, grass, moss, and pine needles. It is lined with soft materials like animal hair.
Eggs
The clutch contains 3-5 pale blue or greenish eggs with brown spotting. The female incubates the eggs for about two weeks.
Parental Care
Both parents help feed the chicks, who leave the nest at 9-12 days old. The chicks are fed insects and seeds by the parents. After leaving the nest, the fledglings stay near the ground and are still dependent on the parents for 1-2 weeks.
Population and Conservation Status
The White-crowned Sparrow has an extensive range and large total population. Partners in Flight estimates a global breeding population of 25 million. Populations appear stable, so the White-crowned Sparrow is considered a species of Least Concern by the IUCN. Loss of breeding habitat is a potential threat.
Fun Facts
Here are some interesting facts about the White-crowned Sparrow:
– Their whistled song is considered one of the most beautiful sounds of the American West.
– White-crowned Sparrows have contributed greatly to study of bird songlearning. Males learn songs during a short window in youth.
– Their name in the Dakotah Sioux language translates to “bird with marked ears.”
– They migrate in huge mixed flocks that can number in the thousands.
– West coast groups migrate through California’s Central Valley where birders observe them.
Conclusion
The female White-crowned Sparrow can be identified by its gray underparts, brown-streaked back, distinct black and white crown stripes, and pinkish beak. They breed in open habitat across northern North America before migrating south for winter. Females are more dull brown overall with a paler face than males. Their whistled song is a classic sound of the west. White-crowned Sparrows are abundantsongbirds that thrive in disturbed scrub habitat.
