Golden-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia atricapilla
Description 3
Measuring 15–18 cm (6–7 in) in length with a wingspan of 24.75 cm (9.74 in) and ranging from 19.0 to 35.4 g (0.67 to 1.25 oz) in mass, the adult golden-crowned sparrow is fairly large for an American sparrow. Like all Zonotrichia sparrows, it has a relatively long, square-tipped tail and a slightly peaked crown. Males and females are similarly plumaged, though males average slightly larger than females. Other than a plain gray nape, the adult's upperparts are grayish-brown, with broad brownish-black streaks on the back and scapulars, and an unstreaked rump. Its underparts are gray, slightly paler on the belly and buffier on the flanks. Its wings and tail are brown, and it shows two white wing bars. Its legs are pale brown, and its bill is dark, with the upper mandible darker than the lower. Its iris is brown.
In the breeding season, the golden-crowned sparrow has a broad yellow central crown stripe which becomes pale gray towards the back of the head.
Although its distinctive crown patches allow for easy identification of the adult golden-crowned sparrow in breeding plumage, an immature or non-breeding bird might be mistaken for a white-crowned or white-throated sparrow. It is distinguished from the former by its crown pattern and dusky (rather than pale pink or yellowish) bill, and from the latter by its larger size, plain throat, and lack of a buff-colored central crown stripe. A young or non-breeding bird may also resemble a female house sparrow, but can be distinguished by its larger size, darker plumage, longer tail and (usually) some amount of dull yellow feathering on its forehead.
Habitat 4
Subalpine meadows; thickets along streams; boreal bogs. Montane thickets and shrubbery, dwarf conifers and brushy canyons; in migration and winter in dense brush, thickets, chaparral and gardens (AOU 1983). BREEDING: Usually nests on or near ground, in bank beneath overhanging plants or at base of shrub.
Sources and Credits
- (c) Terry & Julie, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.flickr.com/photos/33665418@N06/3148797396
- (c) Robert, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://www.flickr.com/photos/44055945@N06/5385089601
- (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden-crowned_sparrow
- (c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28918952
More Info
Range Map
iNaturalist.ca Map
| Animal | Bird |
|---|---|
| Bird | American Sparrows (Emberizidae) |
| Color | black, brown, grey, yellow |
