Golden-crowned Sparrow

Zonotrichia atricapillaOrder: PASSERIFORMES Family: Sparrows (Emberizidae)

Codes: Common Name: GCSP Scientific Name: ZONATR ITIS Taxonomic No.: 179461

Golden-crowned Sparrow: The male Golden-crowned Sparrow has brown-streaked upperparts and a plain gray breast. The yellow crown is bordered by a wide black cap and a gray cheek and collar. The bill is gray and the wings are brown with two white wing bars.

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Overview

Golden-crowned Sparrow: Large sparrow, brown-streaked upperparts and plain gray breast. Yellow crown is bordered by a wide black cap; cheek and collar are black. Bill is gray. Wings are brown with two white bars. Short flights, alternates rapid wing beats with brief periods of wings pulled to sides.

Range and Habitat

Golden-crowned Sparrow: Breeds from western Alaska south to northwestern Washington. Spends winters from Kodiak Island and coastal Alaska south to Baja California. Preferred habitats include alpine meadows and coniferous forest clearings; winters in coastal brushlands and chaparral.

Topo Map: Perching-like Body

Listen to Call

Voice Text

"oh-dear-me", "I'm so weary", "tseet", "chink"

Interesting Facts

Golden-crowned Sparrow nests are usually dug into the ground or placed in a depression so their rims are even with the ground.

Each bird has its own feeding spot at the bird feeder. Even when there are no other birds around, it uses its spot exclusively.

A group of Golden-crowned Sparrows are collectively known as a "reign" of sparrows.

Bird Term Glossary

Author

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Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.

Golden-crowned Sparrow

● Song: "oh-dear-me", "I'm so weary", "tseet", "chink"

● Foraging & Feeding: Golden-crowned Sparrow: Diet consists of seeds, insects, flowers, buds, small seedlings, fruits, and berries; forages on the ground and in low foliage.

● Breeding & nesting: Golden-crowned Sparrow: Three to five creamy white to pale blue eggs with brown blotches are laid in a neat nest cup well hidden in a dense weed clump or bush. Incubation ranges from 11 to 14 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: Golden-crowned Sparrow: Juvenile White-crowned Sparrow has a pink to orange bill, brown striped head, and a buff back with rufous streaks. House Sparrow has a heavier bill, shorter tail, and is paler brown overall.

Flight Pattern

Short flights wih rapid wing beats.

Golden-crowned Sparrow Body Illustration

● Range & Habitat: Golden-crowned Sparrow: Breeds from western Alaska south to northwestern Washington. Spends winters from Kodiak Island and coastal Alaska south to Baja California. Preferred habitats include alpine meadows and coniferous forest clearings; winters in coastal brushlands and chaparral.

^BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester

^PopulationFairly common

^MigrationMigratory

^Weight1.1 Ounces

Perching-like Body

Upperparts

Back, rump, hindneck, wings, and crown.

Breast

The upper front part of a bird.

Collar

Similar to the upper part of the human neck, located at the back of the crown.

Crown

The crown is the top part of the birds head.

4 and 6 letter alpha codes

The four letter common name alpha code is is derived from the first two letters of the common first name and the first two letters of common last name. The six letter species name alpha code is derived from the first three letters of the scientific name (genus) and the first three letters of the scientific name (species). See (1) below for the rules used to create the codes..

Four-letter (for English common names) and six-letter (for scientific names) species alpha codes were developed by Pyle and DeSante (2003, North American Bird-Bander 28:64-79) to reflect A.O.U. taxonomy and nomenclature (A.O.U. 1998) as modified by Supplements 42 (Auk 117:847-858, 2000) and 43 (Auk 119:897-906, 2002). The list has been updated by Pyle and DeSante to reflect changes reported by the A.O.U from 2003 through 2006.

Field Guide to Birds of North America