White-crowned Sparrow
Learn to identify the White-crowned Sparrow by ear. Master the "thin whistles ending in a trill" phrase and tell it apart from similar species.
What the White-crowned Sparrow sounds like
A medium-large sparrow with a striking head pattern. Adults have bold black and white stripes on the head, a clear gray breast and belly, and brown streaked back and wings with two white wingbars. The bill is orange-yellow (pinkish in some populations). Juveniles have similar patterns but with brown and tan head stripes instead of black and white.
“thin whistles ending in a trill”
How to tell it apart
Lessons featuring the White-crowned Sparrow
Ready to test your ear? Practice identifying the White-crowned Sparrow's sounds in this interactive in-app lesson.
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Where you'll hear it
Open scrubby areas, brush piles, field edges, and thickets. Breeds in tundra, alpine meadows, and boreal or montane shrublands. During migration and winter found in weedy fields, hedgerows, forest edges, desert scrub, and backyards (often on the ground or low in bushes). Often seen along roadsides or fence rows with dense low cover.
Arrives on breeding grounds in late spring (males often return first and sing to establish territories). Breeds during the short northern summer; typically raises one brood, occasionally two. In fall, forms flocks and migrates to wintering areas by September/October. During winter, remains in loose flocks on the ground, often with other sparrow species, and then departs northward by early spring. Males sing on both breeding and wintering grounds, but more vigorously in spring.
Similar species
White-throated Sparrow
Has a yellow spot in front of the eye (lores) and a bright white throat patch, with gray breast. White-throated Sparrows also have head stripes, but often a bit less stark; and their crown stripes can be white-and-black or tan-and-brown morphs. Critically, White-throated has a distinct white throat and yellow lore, which White-crowned lacks. Additionally, White-throated Sparrows usually show some streaky pattern on the sides/flanks and have a brown, not orange, bill.
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Occurs on the West Coast. Winter adults have a yellow patch on the forehead with diffuse dark crown stripes (not bright white). They are larger, duller brown overall with grayish bellies, and lack the bold white-and-black head pattern. In breeding plumage Golden-crowned has a golden-yellow crown with black surrounding it. Essentially, if the crown has bright white stripes, it's a White-crowned; if golden or dull, it's Golden-crowned.
Harris's Sparrow (immature)
A rare comparison, since ranges minimally overlap. Juvenile Harris's Sparrows have head patterns somewhat reminiscent of White-crowned juveniles (crown streaked with brown). However, Harris's Sparrow is much larger, with a proportionally bigger pink bill and in any plumage usually shows some black spotting or a developing bib on the chest. Adult Harris's have extensive black on the face and throat unlike White-crowned.
House Sparrow (female)
Not closely related, but a casual observer might confuse a female House Sparrow with a juvenile White-crowned Sparrow. Female House Sparrows are smaller, dirtier brown, with a plain buffy eyebrow stripe (no bold head pattern), and streaked chest and flanks. They also have a shorter, blunter tail. White-crowned of any age has a cleaner gray breast and bold crown stripes in either black/white or brown/tan.