Bird of the Month: Golden-crowned Sparrow
Written by Andy McCormick
Andy McCormick, Volunteer and Former Board President of Eastside Audubon
A boreal forest breeder, the Golden-crowned Sparrow winters along the Pacific coast from September until April when it returns north to breed.
Often associating with White-crowned Sparrows (Z. leucophrys) the Golden-crowned Sparrow forages on the ground for seeds, insects, and spiders. However, it stays close to thick shrubs where it finds buds and other plant matter. Birders will often flush flocks and watch the birds fly up into the shrubs as a group. However, waiting quietly and motionless for a few minutes allows the sparrows to drop down to the ground where they will continue foraging offering good views.
ONE OF THE “ZONO” SPARROWS
The Golden-crowned Sparrow is one of five sparrows in the genus Zonotrichia, from the Greek zone, a belt or band, and trichas, a song-thrush. The reference is to the bands on the head. The species epithet atricapilla, is from the Latin ater, black, and capillus, the hair of the head referring to the black lines surrounding the golden crown, which interestingly is not part of the scientific name (Holloway).
The Golden-crowned is the west coast specialty of the genus. The other members of this genus are the aforementioned White-crowned Sparrow, which has a wide range; the White-throated Sparrow (Z. albicollis) is the eastern species; Harris’s Sparrow (Z. querrula) is a bird of the central states; and the Rufous-collared Sparrow (Z. capensis) is a Central and South American species.
A SONG IN A MINOR KEY
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Scientific Name: Zonotrichia atricapilla
Length: 7.25”
Wingspan: 9.5”
Weight: 1 oz (29 g)
AOU Alpha Code: GCSP
A down-scale Oh, dear me is one phrase many birders use to describe the mournful song of the Golden-crowned Sparrow (Aversa, et al). However, during the Gold Rush days miners called it the “No gold here” bird. Others, thinking the bird sounded tired as it sang “I’m so tired,” named it “Weary Willie” (Norment, et al). The song is a series of clear whistled notes in a minor key. You can hear the song at the Macaulay Library.
LIMITED BREEDING INFORMATION
Considering the large amount of research which has been conducted on the White-crowned Sparrow, it is surprising that there are so few studies of the breeding behavior of the Golden-crowned Sparrow. Our knowledge of this bird on the breeding range is limited.
We know that when snow has melted this sparrow nests on the ground in deciduous thickets of alder and willows. While snow is on the ground, nests will often be built low in shrubs. One nest was observed during construction and most of it was completed by the female. Another study found that in 100 nests, 3-5 eggs are usually deposited. Incubation information is limited, but at one nest the female incubated most of the time. The male fed the female while it was on the nest. The young leave the nest by walking with the parent, but it is not known when first flight occurs (Norment, et al).
STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION
The Golden-crowned Sparrow breeds in western and southern Alaska, the Yukon Territory, British Columbia, and western Alberta. It winters west of the Cascade Range and Rocky Mountains from SW British Columbia, through Washington, Oregon, and California to Baja California. The population is stable and there are no conservation management programs in place. This sparrow apparently benefits from nesting in remote areas at the edge of the boreal forest where it is not disturbed by human activity.
The Golden-crowned Sparrow provides some welcome variety to our fall birding, and we are especially fortunate to see them following their early spring molt sporting their new black caps centered with a golden crown.
Photo credit Mick Thompson. References available upon request from amccormick@eastsideaudubon.org.