Golden-crowned Sparrow

Zonotrichia atricapillaOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Sparrows (Emberizidae)

Breeding Location:

Forest edge, Bushes, shrubs, and thickets, Mountains

Breeding Type:

Monogamous, Solitary nester

Breeding Population:

Fairly common

Egg Color:

Creamy white to pale blue with brown blotches

Number of Eggs:

3 - 5

Incubation Days:

11 - 14

Egg Incubator:

Female

Nest Material:

Sticks, rootlets, moss, grass, leaves, and bark., Lined with feathers, grass, and mammal hair.

Migration:

Migratory

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.

Breeding and 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.

Foraging and Feeding

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

Readily Eats

Sunflower Seed, Commercial Mixed Bird Seed

Vocalization

Golden-crowned Sparrow: Song consists of three descending, plaintive notes "oh, dear me." Calls are "tseet" and "chink."

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.

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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

Field Guide to Birds of North America