White-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia leucophrys (JR Forster, 1772)
WHCSP 
18390
Family: Passeriformes > Passerellidae
A common breeding bird across much of Canada and the north-western United States, White-crowned Sparrows normally winter in the United States and Mexico. A few individuals have occurred in Britain & Ireland, some of which have hitched a lift on ships carrying grain.
Because male White-crowned Sparrows learn the songs they grew up with and do not travel far from where they were raised, song dialects form – males on the edge of two dialects may be 'bilingual'.
Select a topic for more facts and statistics about the White-crowned Sparrow
BTO RECORDS
BTO RECORDS
Identification
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Our interactive online courses are a great way to develop your bird identification skills, whether you're new to the hobby or a competent birder looking to hone your abilities.
Browse training coursesStatus and Trends
Population size and trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO surveys and atlases with data collected by BTO volunteers.
CONSERVATION STATUS
This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.
| IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global) |
Least Concern 
|
| Schedule 1 license required (to disturb) | No |
| Birds Directive Annex 1 | No |
POPULATION SIZE
We have no population estimates for this scarce species.
| BOU Category | A |
|
First Record
|
Fair Isle, 1977 |
DISTRIBUTION
This species is a rare vagrant and was recorded during Bird Atlas 2007–11 as shown on the map.
-
Britain and Ireland Breeding Distribution 2008-2011.
More from the Atlas Mapstore. -
Britain and Ireland Winter Distribution 2008-2011.
More from the Atlas Mapstore.
Occupied 10-km squares in UK
| No. occupied in winter | 1 |
| % occupied in winter | 0.03 |
DISTRIBUTION CHANGE
This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution change.
Movement
Information about movement and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.
RINGING RECOVERIES
View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.
Biology
Lifecycle and body size information about White-crowned Sparrow, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.
PRODUCTIVITY & NESTING
Sample sizes are too small to report Productivity and Nesting statistics for this species.
BIOMETRICS
Sample sizes are too small to report Biometrics for this species.
Feather measurements and photos on featherbase
CODES & CLASSIFICATION
|
Field Codes
|
5-letter code: WHCSP | Euring: 18390 |
For information in another language (where available) click on a linked name
Links to more studies from ConservationEvidence.com
- Avian use and vegetation characteristics of Conservation Reserve Program fields
- Cattle grazing in a national forest greatly reduces nesting success in a ground-nesting sparrow
- Population trends of the Henslow's sparrow in relation to the Conservation Reserve Program in Illinois, 1975-1995
Read more studies about White-crowned Sparrow on Conservation Evidence >
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