The White-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) is a species of passerine bird native to North America. The part of its scientific name translates from Ancient Greek as "White eyebrow".
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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HerbivoreA herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, for example, foliage, for the main component of its die...
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GranivoreSeed predation, often referred to as granivory, is a type of plant-animal interaction in which granivores (seed predators) feed on the seeds of pla...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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InsectivoresAn insectivore is a carnivorous plant or animal that eats insects. An alternative term is entomophage, which also refers to the human practice of e...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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ArborealArboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some anima...
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AltricialAltricial animals are those species whose newly hatched or born young are relatively immobile. They lack hair or down, are not able to obtain food ...
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OviparousOviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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CongregatoryCongregatory animals tend to gather in large numbers in specific areas as breeding colonies, for feeding, or for resting.
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MonogamyMonogamy is a form of relationship in which both the male and the female has only one partner. This pair may cohabitate in an area or territory for...
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Generally solitaryGenerally solitary animals are those animals that spend their time separately but will gather at foraging areas or sleep in the same location or sh...
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Partial MigrantPartial migration is when within a migratory species or even within a single population, some individuals migrate while others do not.
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starts withAdults of this species have black and white stripes on their heads, a gray face, brown-streaked upperparts, and a long tail. The wings are brown with bars and the underparts are gray. Their bill is pink or yellow in color.
White-crowned sparrows occur across northern Canada and the western United States. Southerly populations in the Rocky Mountains and coast are largely resident but the breeding populations of the northerly part of their range are migratory and can be found as wintering or passage visitors through most of North America south to central Mexico. White-crowned sparrows inhabit brushy areas in the taiga, tundra, alpine meadows, and woodland edges. These birds can also be found in thickets, fields, gardens, and urban areas.
White-crowned sparrows are generally solitary, however, in winter, they often forage in flocks. These birds are active during the day. They forage on the ground or in low vegetation but sometimes make short flights to catch flying insects. If disturbed, they will quickly fly back to cover. White-crowned sparrows communicate a thin, high ‘tseet' or a sharp, alarmed 'chink' calls; their song consists of short series of whistles and trills.
White-crowned sparrows are herbivores (granivores) and carnivores (insectivores). They mainly eat seeds of weeds and grasses, as well as buds, flowers, berries, and small fruits. During summer they eat caterpillars, beetles, wasps, and sometimes spiders.
White-crowned sparrows are monogamous breeders that mate for life. They nest either low in bushes or on the ground under shrubs. The female builds a cup-shaped nest of sticks, grasses, pine needles, roots, and bark, and lines it with feathers and hair. She lays 3 to 5 brown-marked gray or greenish-blue eggs and incubates them for 11-14 days. The chicks are born blind and helpless. Both parents feed their young until they fledge and leave the nest in 8-10 days after hatching.
There are no major threats facing White-crowned sparrows at present.
According to Partners in Flight resource, the total population size of the White-crowned sparrow is 79,000,000 breeding individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are stable.
