White-crowned sparrow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White-crowned sparrow |
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Zonotrichia
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leucophrys
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The white-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) is a cool bird found in North America. It's a type of passerine bird, which means it's a perching bird. This medium-sized bird is part of the New World sparrow family. You can spot it by its gray face and black and white stripes on its head.
White-crowned sparrows build their nests in bushy areas. They live in the cold taiga and tundra regions of northern North America. You can also find them in the Rocky Mountains and along the Pacific coast. Some sparrows that live in the Rocky Mountains and along the coast stay in one place all year. However, sparrows from the northern areas travel south for winter. They can be seen across most of North America, even as far south as central Mexico.
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What's in a Name?
The scientific name for the white-crowned sparrow comes from Ancient Greece. The first part, Zonotrichia, means "banded hair." This refers to the stripes on its head. The second part, leucophrys, means "white eyebrow." This describes the white stripe above its eye.
How to Spot a White-Crowned Sparrow
Adult white-crowned sparrows have clear black and white stripes on their heads. Their faces are gray, and their upper bodies are brown with streaks. They have a long tail and brown wings with bars. Their undersides are gray. Their beak can be pink or yellow.
These sparrows look a bit like the white-throated sparrow. But white-crowned sparrows do not have a white throat or yellow patches near their eyes.
Measurements
- Length: About 5.9 to 6.3 inches (15-16 cm)
- Weight: Around 0.9 to 1.0 ounces (25-28 g)
- Wingspan: About 8.3 to 9.4 inches (21-24 cm)
Different Types of White-Crowned Sparrows
There are five types, or subspecies, of white-crowned sparrows. These types are called pugetensis, gambelii, nuttalli, oriantha, and leucophrys. They live in different places and have different migration paths.
For example, the nutalli subspecies lives in California all year round. But the gambelli subspecies travels a very long way. It can fly all the way to the Arctic Circle during the summer to breed. Sparrows from northern areas fly south for winter. They often go to the southern United States and northern Mexico.
Where They Live
White-crowned sparrows build their nests in bushy areas. You can find them across northern Canada and the western United States.
Sometimes, a white-crowned sparrow might fly far off course. This is called being a "vagrant." They have been seen rarely in western Europe. People have spotted them in England, Scotland, Ireland, and Norway. In 2008, one was seen in Cley next the Sea in Norfolk, England. To remember this special visit, an image of the bird was put into a window at St Margaret's Church.
Sparrow Behavior
These birds usually look for food on the ground or in low bushes. Sometimes, they fly up quickly to catch insects in the air. They mostly eat seeds, other plant parts, and insects. In winter, they often look for food in groups, called flocks.
White-crowned sparrows build their nests low in bushes or on the ground under shrubs. They lay three to five eggs. The eggs are gray or greenish-blue with brown marks.
Staying Awake During Migration
White-crowned sparrows have an amazing ability to stay awake for a long time. They can stay awake for up to two weeks during their long migrations. Scientists have studied this to see if it could help humans. For example, it might help people who work long shifts or truck drivers stay alert.
How Human Noise Affects Sparrows
Recent studies show that human activities and noise can change how white-crowned sparrows sing. Scientists like Elizabeth Derryberry have found that the sparrows' songs are affected by the sounds around them.
Images for kids
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Adult white-crowned sparrow
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Young white-crowned sparrows have duller colors.
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A nuttalli subspecies sparrow at Point Lobos State Reserve, California
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A picture of a white-crowned sparrow in a church window in Cley next the Sea, Norfolk
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See also
In Spanish: Gorrión corona blanca para niños
