Golden-crowned Sparrow

The golden-crowned sparrow, a robust New World sparrow, is a sight to behold with its distinctive yellow crown stripe. This bird, with a length of 15–18 cm and a wingspan of 24.75 cm, is fairly large for its family. Both sexes share similar plumage, and the species is characterized by a long, square-tipped tail and a slightly peaked crown.

Identification Tips

Adults boast a broad yellow central crown stripe during the breeding season, which fades to pale gray towards the back of the head. Their upperparts are a grayish-brown with broad brownish-black streaks, while the underparts are a lighter gray. Two white wing bars are visible on brown wings and tail. The legs are pale brown, and the bill is dark, with the upper mandible being the darker of the two.

Habitat

In winter, the golden-crowned sparrow can be found in brushy areas, particularly chaparral, usually in dense shrubs.

Distribution

This migratory bird breeds from north-central Alaska and central Yukon down to northwestern Washington, wintering from southern coastal Alaska to northern Baja California. It has been recorded as a vagrant in Japan and Russia and occasionally strays to the eastern coast of North America.

Behaviour

Golden-crowned sparrows spend winters in flocks, often with other sparrow species. They exhibit a complex social structure, with the size and color of their crown patches signaling social status to reduce confrontations within the flock.

Song & Calls

The song is a three-note whistle, descending in pitch, often described as "oh-dear-me" or "I'm so weary." The call note is a sharp "tsew."

Breeding

Breeding occurs from late May through early August, with males singing from exposed perches. The female builds a bulky cup nest on the ground or a low branch, laying typically five pale green, heavily spotted eggs. Both parents feed the altricial young, which fledge within 12 days.

Similar Species

The golden-crowned sparrow can be confused with the white-crowned or white-throated sparrow, but differences in crown pattern, bill color, and size help distinguish it. It may also resemble a female house sparrow but is larger with darker plumage and a longer tail.

Diet and Feeding

Feeding primarily on plant material such as seeds, berries, flowers, and buds, the golden-crowned sparrow is an important destroyer of weed seeds. It forages on the ground by pecking and scratching and occasionally catches insects.

Conservation status

Listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, the golden-crowned sparrow's large range and population size suggest stability or an increase in numbers. It is protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.