Bird
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia atricapillaGolden-crowned sparrows nest in shrubby tundra and subalpine thickets across northwestern North America before migrating to Pacific coastal regions for the winter. They frequently join mixed-species flocks with white-crowned sparrows, foraging on the ground for seeds, insects, and young plant shoots. Their arrival in autumn is often announced by a distinctive, slow, three-note descending whistle that sounds plaintive and mournful.
MigratorySongbirdWinter Visitor
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyWeed seeds, Insects, Wild berries
Predators
- Domestic Cat
- Cooper's Hawk
- Sharp-shinned Hawk
ThreatsHabitat fragmentation, outdoor cats, window strikes
HabitatsTundra scrub, coastal chaparral, brushy thickets, gardens
Life span6–10 years
Classification
- FamilyPasserellidae
- SpeciesZonotrichia atricapilla
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Listen for Calls: Recognizable by a mournful three-note descending whistle in winter.
- Ground Feeders: Prefers scattering mixed seeds directly on the ground near dense brush cover.
- Maintain Cover: Provide native shrubs to offer roosting and escape cover from predators.
Frequent Companion (c) Blake Ross, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Blake Ross · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Mike Baird, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Judy Gallagher, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) James M. Maley, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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