Last Updated on January 27, 2024 by Greg Gillson
The striking black-and-white head of White-crowned Sparrows is shared only with White-throated Sparrows. That makes these birds rather easy to identify as they scratch on the ground under your bird feeder.
White-crowned Sparrows visit backyards in winter throughout much of the contiguous United States. They are also common spring and fall migrants.
How do you attract White-crowned Sparrows to your feeder? Follow these suggestions to attract White-crowned Sparrows to your yard.
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| White-crowned Sparrow. Greg Gillson. |
Why attract White-crowned Sparrows to your bird feeder?
White-crowned Sparrows are beautifully patterned. Their crowns are patterned with black and white stripes from the bill to hind-crown.
But they don’t all look exactly alike!
Did you know? Males and females look alike. However, for the first year of their life the head stripes of both genders are reddish-brown and tan, rather than black and white.
Not only that, Eastern birds and those of the Inter-Mountain West have black feathers between bill and eye. Those populations in the far West and Alaska have white feathers between eye and bill.
White-crowned Sparrows sing in late winter and also in spring as they migrate north. Surprise! Various populations have different song dialects! Especially in the West is it possible to hear differences in the songs of migratory birds.
White-crowned Sparrows are fairly hardy winter birds. They winter south of the cold New England and northern Midwest States. But they are found in winter in other parts of the US, snow or not.
White-crowned Sparrows tend to be quite gentle and unaggressive. They give way to the bossy House Sparrows. They will, however, push around smaller sparrows such as Dark-eyed Juncos and Chipping Sparrows.
For these reasons and more, people who feed birds love to see White-crowned Sparrows when they first show up in September and October.
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| First-year White-crowned Sparrow. |
What foods will attract White-crowned Sparrows to your feeder?
You can attract White-crowned Sparrows to your bird feeder by offering small seeds, such as millet and sunflower seeds.
These sparrows eat grains and weed seeds that other feeder birds, such as finches and chickadees, throw out of the feeder. For instance, White-crowned Sparrows will eat wheat and corn, often found in cheap bird seed.
If you want to invite the widest variety of seed eating birds to your feeder, though, a more expensive blend of mixed bird seed will have less waste. The best mixed bird seed that I have found is Wagner’s Songbird Supreme. It is 50% sunflower seeds and doesn’t have any cheap filler seed that many birds won’t eat.
What kind of feeders do White-crowned Sparrows like?
Ground feeding sparrows, such as White-crowned Sparrows often feed under your seed feeders. They like to kick and scratch on the ground to search for fallen seed.
They can’t help this kicking habit. When they get up on a feeder, they can end up kicking out lots of good seed on the ground!
A low ground platform feeder is ideal for these birds and other sparrows such as towhees and juncos, and also cardinals and jays.
White-crowned Sparrows will also eat from hopper feeders that have a wide shelf they can stand on.
Where to place your bird feeder for White-crowned Sparrows
White-crowned Sparrows would like a low platform feeder. They will also eat from the ground. But they want some nearby safety.
Place the feeder near a brush pile or hedge. A tangle of blackberries will provide cover.
They also like small twiggy trees rising above such a tangle. These sparrows often perch up high to see the danger. Then they dive into more protective cover.
If safety is close, they may also eat at larger window bird feeders.
How else can you attract White-crowned Sparrows to your yard?
Even without a bird feeder, White-crowned Sparrows may spend the winter in your yard if it provides enough protection.
Plant thick shrubs and bushes to provide cover. Choose native plants like willows and dogwoods. White-crowned Sparrows may eat small berries from landscaping bushes.
If you can provide a large brush pile, these sparrows will use it to hide in.
White-crowned Sparrows will use bird baths or other water features. They are especially attracted to moving or splashing water such as a fountain.
Problems with White-crowned Sparrows: If you have attracted too many to your feeder
White-crowned Sparrows do occur in flocks, sometimes quite large flocks, often with other species of sparrows.
You may have attracted too many sparrows overall, of several species. If you want to discourage all sparrows, while keeping other species, try these suggestions.
Switch to using a tube feeder without a tray. Fill this bird feeder with black oil sunflower seeds. This feeder and food will attract finches, chickadees, and similar birds. Sparrows will still come, but perhaps make up a smaller percentage of the birds.
You may also purchase a thistle sock or finch feeder and fill it with Niger seed. Only finches will feed from this food: Pine Siskins and goldfinches, primarily.
If you want to reduce the number of birds feeding on the ground under the feeder, do two things. Feed a smaller amount of food so that the feeder goes empty by noon. Birds will clean up any spilled seed on the ground after that, and then be gone. You’ll have to experiment to find the exact amount of seed to add.
Clean the ground under the feeder of scattered whole seeds and even husks that sparrows may search through, looking for food.
If you decide to have another feeder that sparrows don’t use, buy a tube feeder.
I really love the way my iBorn tube feeder looks, with its copper top. A screwdriver takes off the lower perch and opens it up for cleaning. This feeder filled with black oil sunflower seeds attracts all types of finches, chickadees, and nuthatches. The smaller perches and lack of tray mean that you’ll have fewer House Sparrows, Starlings, Doves, and Jays at this feeder.
Wrapping Up
The bold black and white stripes on the head of a White-crowned Sparrow serve several important purposes:
Species recognition and mate attraction:
- The contrasting stripes are a distinctive visual signal that helps White-crowned Sparrows identify each other as members of the same species. This is crucial for social interactions, avoiding mating with other species, and forming flocks, especially during migration.
- The stripes also play a role in mate attraction. Male White-crowned Sparrows with wider and more contrasting black stripes are generally considered more attractive to females, likely indicating better health and fitness.
Communication and territorial defense:
- The stripes can be used for non-vocal communication. When raised and flared, they create a larger and more conspicuous appearance, which can be used to intimidate rivals or intruders during territorial disputes.
- They can also be used in courtship displays. Males may flick their heads or raise their crown feathers to further accentuate the stripes, attracting the attention of potential mates.
Camouflage and concealment:
- While seemingly bold, the black and white stripes might provide some disruptive camouflage in certain situations. When viewed from certain angles, the contrasting stripes can break up the bird’s outline, making it less visible against a background of branches or leaves.
- This could be particularly advantageous in dense vegetation or during migration, offering some level of protection from predators.
It’s important to note that the relative importance of these functions might vary depending on the context and specific situation. Overall, the black and white stripes play a multifaceted role in the life of a White-crowned Sparrow, contributing to their survival, reproduction, and social interactions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do White-crowned Sparrows live?
The range of White-crowned Sparrows varies depending on the season and population:
Breeding:
- Alaska and arctic Canada: This is the primary breeding ground for both subspecies, the Gambel’s White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii) and the Mountain White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys oriantha). They prefer open areas like tundra, meadows, and alpine forests.
- Western United States: Some Mountain White-crowned Sparrows breed in high-elevation areas of the western United States, from Wyoming and Montana south to New Mexico and Colorado.
Non-breeding:
- Continental United States: Both subspecies migrate south for the winter, spending the colder months across much of the continental United States and northern Mexico. Their range extends from the Pacific Coast eastward to the Atlantic Coast, reaching as far south as Texas and Florida.
- Pacific Coast: Interestingly, some Gambel’s White-crowned Sparrows along the Pacific Coast are year-round residents, not migrating at all.
Overall distribution:
- Found throughout most of Canada, the continental United States, and northern Mexico.
- Absent from the extreme northern reaches of Canada and Alaska.
- Not present in Central America except for wintering populations.
Are White-crowned Sparrows aggressive?
While aggression levels can vary depending on individual birds and context, White-crowned Sparrows are generally considered moderately aggressive compared to other songbirds. Here’s what you need to know:
Aggression towards other White-crowned Sparrows:
- Territorial: During breeding season, males aggressively defend their territories from other males, often engaging in physical fights, chases, and vocal displays. This helps ensure access to resources and mate attraction.
- Social hierarchy: In winter flocks, some individuals might dominate others, controlling access to food sources through aggressive displays or chases. This establishes a social hierarchy within the flock.
Aggression towards other species:
- Resource competition: They can be aggressive towards other bird species, especially when food resources are scarce. They might chase away competitors from feeders or foraging areas.
- Nesting defense: Females fiercely defend their nests and young from potential threats, including other birds, small mammals, and even humans. They might dive-bomb or display aggressively to deter intruders.
What does a female White-crowned Sparrow look like?
While both male and female White-crowned Sparrows share similar brown streaked upperparts, white underparts, and long tails, there are some distinct differences in their plumage that help distinguish them:
Female White-crowned Sparrow:
- Head: Compared to the male’s bold black and white stripes, the female has a brown head with buff and gray streaks. The crown, where the male has the contrasting stripes, is browner with faint, thin buff and gray stripes that are less noticeable.
- Bill: Her bill is usually lighter in color compared to the male’s pink or yellow bill, often appearing grayish-brown or beige.
- Overall markings: She has less defined markings throughout her body compared to the male. Her streaking on the chest and breast tends to be fainter and less contrasting.
Here’s a quick comparison to remember:
Male: Bold black and white head stripes, pink or yellow bill, more defined markings.
Female: Brown head with faint stripes, grayish-brown or beige bill, less defined markings.
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