There are five subspecies of this larger, approximately 7 inch sparrow. Most mature Michigan White-crowned Sparrows have a very striking white and black striped crown, gray cheeks and underparts, brownish wings with 2 white wingbars, and a gray-brown back. Immature, first winter White-crowned Sparrows have a chestnut and tan striped crown, buffy colored cheeks, a grayish to buff colored rump , and grayish underparts. The bill of the White-crowned Sparrow, shaped for seed eating, varies in color from pink, to yellowish, to orangish.

This bird is not known to breed in Michigan. It passes through our state from mid-April thru mid-May heading for sub-arctic Canada. It passes through again from mid September thru mid October as it heads south. Its southern winter range extends into central Mexico. Apparently there are winters when some of these birds do winter over in Michigan. Winter observations of this species in Leelanau County, however, are very rare.

White-crowned Sparrows, in all seasons, prefer to feed in areas of short grass to sparse vegetation adjacent to thickets and dense scrub or conifers for nesting and roosting. Their diet includes insects, spiders, forbs, fruit, seeds, blossoms and fresh leaves.

The song of this bird, though distinctive, is suggestive of the White-throated Sparrow’s in pitch but the notes are shorter, then trilled, sounding somewhat raspy and much less clear. During the mating-breeding season, the male White-crowned Sparrow often sings at night.

During courtship, the female flutters her wings and trills. This species nests either on the ground or in dense bushes or conifers close to the ground. It is seldom a cowbird host. The female chooses the nesting site, builds the nest, and incubates the eggs. The male assumes the feeding duties when the female begins the second nest. This species commonly raises 2-3 broods and occasionally as many as four a season.

During winters, White-crowned Sparrows often are found in flocks of 5 to 20 birds. Sometimes these flocks number as many as 100 birds. It is also not that unusual for one of this species to spend the winter in the company of Juncos or White-throated Sparrows.

~bob c.