White-crowned Sparrow

Overview

The white-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) is a medium-sized passerine bird native to North America. It belongs to the New World sparrow family and is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Adults feature black and white stripes on the head and a gray face.
• Upper parts are brown and streaked, with brown barred wings and gray underparts.
• The bill is either pink or yellow.
• Distinguishable from the similar white-throated sparrow by the lack of a white throat or yellow lores.

Habitat

Breeding occurs in brushy areas of the taiga, tundra, Rocky Mountains, and Pacific coast across northern Canada and the western United States. Northern populations are migratory, moving to winter in most of North America down to central Mexico, while southerly populations are largely resident. The species is a very rare vagrant to western Europe, with sightings in England, Scotland, Ireland, and Norway.

Diet

These birds forage on the ground or in low vegetation and occasionally make short flights to catch flying insects. Their diet consists mainly of seeds, other plant parts, and insects. During winter, they often forage in flocks.

Did you know?

The white-crowned sparrow is known for its unihemispheric slow-wave sleep, which allows it to stay half-awake for up to two weeks during migration. This phenomenon has been studied for potential applications in human alertness, such as in shift work and truck driving.