The White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) is a medium-sized sparrow found throughout North America. It is known for its distinctive song, a clear whistle which rises and then falls in pitch. The song has been described as sounding like “Oh Dear Me” or “Poor Sam Peabody Peabody Peabody.”
What does the White-crowned Sparrow’s song sound like?
The White-crowned Sparrow has a very recognizable song that consists of a few whistled notes that rise and then fall in pitch. It typically sings a phrase that sounds like “Oh Dear Me” or “Poor Sam Peabody Peabody Peabody.” The song is clear and loud, often described as somewhat plaintive or melancholy. Here is a brief description of the song’s components:
- Starts with a few clear whistled notes rising in pitch
- Hits a peak note that is held for a second or two
- Then drops markedly lower in pitch
- Overall song lasts about 2-3 seconds
The mnemonics “Oh Dear Me” or “Poor Sam Peabody Peabody Peabody” accurately reflect the song’s pattern of starting high, peaking, and then dropping lower. The song is distinct from other similar birds like the Chipping Sparrow. Once you learn the White-crowned Sparrow’s song, it is easy to recognize whenever you hear it.
What does the song sound like in notes?
When transcribed into musical notes, the White-crowned Sparrow’s song is typically written as a 5 note song with the sequence: G – A – B – A – E. The song follows this pattern:
- Starts on a medium-high G note
- Rises up to a higher A note
- Hits its peak at the highest B note where it holds briefly
- Drops down quickly to the A note again
- Finally drops to a low E note at the end
The overall pattern is up-up-peak-down-down. This 5 note transcription accurately captures the rising and falling melody of the White-crowned Sparrow’s classic song.
How fast or slow is the song?
The White-crowned Sparrow’s song is delivered at a moderate tempo. Each complete song lasts about 2-3 seconds from start to finish. There is a small pause before the next song, with a typical interval between songs being 3-5 seconds. So a singing White-crowned Sparrow delivers its characteristic song about every 5 seconds or so.
Within each rendition of the song, the notes are whistled clearly at an even tempo. There is a slightly longer hold on the highest peak B note, but otherwise the pace of the notes is steady. Overall, the song does not feel particularly fast or rushed. The moderate tempo allows each tone to be heard distinctly.
How loud or quiet is the song?
The White-crowned Sparrow sings its song at a relatively loud volume, which allows it to be clearly heard. The song is often described as ringing or penetrating. In ideal conditions, the song can be detectable to human ears at a distance of over 150 feet away. This allows the birds to effectively stake their claim on a territory and attract mates.
Factors like the bird’s distance, obstructions, and background noise can all influence how loud the song sounds. But when sung clearly with the bird visible, the volume is noticeably loud compared to many other small songbirds. The whistled tones carry well through the air and stand out from lower-pitched chirps of other species.
Does the song vary geographically?
Across most of the White-crowned Sparrow’s very large range, the basic components of the song remain the same. However some subtle geographic variations have been noted by ornithologists in the fine details:
| Region | Song Variation |
|---|---|
| Western | Very clean whistle, higher peak note |
| Interior West | Lower peak note, more buzzy quality |
| Eastern | Slower slurred whistles, almost sounds doubled |
So while the basic “Oh Dear Me” pattern holds across regions, the exact pitch, clarity, and harmonics can change slightly in different White-crowned Sparrow populations. But the song remains clearly identifiable compared to other species.
When and how often do they sing?
Male White-crowned Sparrows sing their signature song most actively during the breeding season to attract females and defend nesting territory. In spring and summer, singing activity is at its peak.
The birds sing most vigorously in the early morning when first waking up, with another burst of song in the late afternoon and evening. The song rate tends to decrease during the heat of midday. Stormy or rainy weather can suppress singing activity as well.
When actively singing, male White-crowned Sparrows deliver their song about every 5-10 seconds. A typical session may last 30 minutes or longer before the bird takes a break. In a dense population, multiple birds singing together can create an ongoing chorus.
Why do they sing?
Male White-crowned Sparrows sing their signature song for the following key reasons:
- Attracting mates – The song advertises the male’s presence to females within earshot.
- Defending territory – Singing proclaims ownership of a nesting area and warns away intruders.
- Claiming resources – The song announces the singer’s dominance in an area rich with food and water.
- Competing with rivals – Outsinging neighboring males demonstrates superior fitness for breeding.
Females do not sing the recognizable song, but may utilize call notes to communicate with their mate or offspring. Singing plays an essential role in breeding success for male White-crowned Sparrows.
How do they make the sounds?
White-crowned Sparrows, like all songbirds, have a specialized vocal organ called the syrinx located at the branch point between the trachea and bronchi. The syrinx contains membranes that vibrate to produce sound when air from the lungs passes through.
Muscles surrounding the syrinx control the tension of the membranes, allowing them to modulate the pitch and volume of notes. Adjusting the membranes allows male White-crowned Sparrows to create their signature rising and falling whistle song.
The bird’s beak serves as a resonator that helps refine and project the sound. Subtle movements of the beak, head, and body may also influence the final timbre and harmonics of the song.
How do songs develop in young birds?
Young male White-crowned Sparrows learn to sing by listening to adult males of their species early in life. They may start practicing song in “subsong” form while still in the nest. After fledging, the juvenile birds increasingly mimic the local dialect they hear.
Over the first few months, the young males gradually refine their accuracy by listening and practicing. By their first breeding season a year later, they are singing the complete species-typical song that was learned from older male tutors. Adults continue to modify their song somewhat from year to year as well.
Do they ever make other sounds?
In addition to its signature whistled song, the White-crowned Sparrow makes other calls used for communication purposes:
- Call notes – Simple chips or sweet rising whistles used to maintain contact, especially between mates.
- Alarm calls – Harsh or rattling notes signaling danger.
- Flight chirps – A soft chattering made during takeoff and landing.
- Aggressive chirps – Rising or repetitive notes expressing dominance and threat.
Both males and females utilize various call notes in interactions with each other, their young, and other species. The calls help coordinate pair and family group behaviors.
When do young birds start to sing?
White-crowned Sparrow fledglings start practicing parts of the full adult song while still being fed by their parents, as early as one month old. The subsong vocalizations are soft and rambling at first. Over their first fall and winter, the juveniles gradually begin to produce more accurate imitations of the tutor songs they have learned.
By the following spring when they are approaching one year old, young White-crowned Sparrows are singing clear if somewhat imperfect versions of the species song. Their songs continue improving in precision during their second summer. So the vocal skill develops slowly over the first year until the bird can sing properly during its first breeding season.
Do males and females sing the same song?
There are clear differences between male and female White-crowned Sparrows in terms of their singing behavior:
- Only male birds sing the characteristic whistled song. Females rarely sing at all.
- Males learn to sing by listening to adult tutors while young. Females do not learn or practice singing.
- Males sing to attract mates and defend territories. Females have no reason to sing the mating song.
- Male song is influenced by hormones like testosterone. Female hormones do not drive song development.
So while both sexes make various call notes to communicate, the elaborate and melodious learned song is produced solely by male White-crowned Sparrows under the influence of male sex hormones.
How does their song change by season?
The singing behavior of White-crowned Sparrows changes across seasons in the following ways:
- Breeding season – Most active singing to attract mates and defend nest sites.
- Fall migration – Decreased vocalization as birds concentrate on travel.
- Winter – Occasional subdued singing on warm days to defend resources.
- Spring migration – Song increases as birds return to breeding grounds.
Singing peaks during the fertile spring and summer months when birds are nesting and mating. Colder weather and migration restlessness correlate with less frequent singing the rest of the year. Song is a sign of breeding readiness in the seasonal cycle.
How does the song change with age?
The songs of male White-crowned Sparrows change subtly as the birds age and grow more experienced:
- Year 1 – Songs are simpler, less pure, and more variable.
- Year 2 – Songs improve in consistency, rhythm, and tone.
- Year 3+ – Songs stabilize with better precision and flourish.
- Older birds introduce more trills and complexity.
So while the basic song is recognizable even in first-year birds, mature adults sing with greater fluidity, purity of tone, and individual artistry due to years of practice and refinement.
How is the White-crowned Sparrow song unique?
Several key features make the White-crowned Sparrow’s song unique compared to other sparrows and songbirds:
- Clear whistled tones sounding almost artificial
- Distinctive rising and falling pitch pattern
- Easily learned by humans through mnemonics
- Sung consistently across the species’ large range
- Functions solely for breeding, not heard year-round
Many birds have complex songs learned only by their own species. But the White-crowned Sparrow has an exceptionally recognizable whistled song that serves as a reliable signal of their presence during the breeding season over a wide geographic area.
How can you distinguish the White-crowned Sparrow by song?
Several tips for identifying the White-crowned Sparrow by song alone:
- Listen for a clear, whistled “Oh Dear Me” pattern.
- Note the characteristic rise and fall in pitch.
- The song has a pure, consistent tone unlike many other birds.
- It lacks buzzy, rattling, or arpeggio elements of other sparrows.
- Timing is steady, not rushed, spaced about 5 seconds apart.
With practice listening to recordings, the unique White-crowned Sparrow song can be distinguished from other similar-sounding species. No other common bird has such a recognizable whistled mating song.
Recordings and Examples
Here are links to audio recordings of the White-crowned Sparrow’s song from several online sources:
- All About Birds – White-crowned Sparrow Song
- Audubon Field Guide – White-crowned Sparrow Song
- Xeno-Canto – White-crowned Sparrow Song Recordings
These websites offer many audio samples of the White-crowned Sparrow’s vocalizations to help birdwatchers learn to identify this species by sound alone.
Conclusion
The White-crowned Sparrow has a distinctively recognizable song consisting of clear whistled notes rising and falling in pitch. This song is used solely by males during the breeding season to attract mates and defend territory. Young birds learn to sing by mimicking adults over their first year. The White-crowned Sparrow’s song remains consistent across the species’ range, allowing easy identification by ear. With a little practice listening, anyone can learn to identify these sparrows simply by their unique vocalizations.
