PHOTO LIBRARY

White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

common   fairly common   uncommon   rare   occasional   no records

 

QUICK TIPS: 1) Look at the crown - in fall only AHY birds have white and black stripes, while HY birds have tan and brown stripes; note that in spring this feature is generally not helpful, though SY birds may occasionally retain a few brown feathers, especially on the hindcrown 2) Uniformly narrow and pointed rectrices OR contrastingly fresh and broad central rectrices are indicative of HY/SY, while uniformly broad and more rounded rectrices are typical of AHY/ASY, but beware that some individuals may replace their tail early, so this is less reliable for AHY/ASY 2) Check the primary coverts - they are relatively narrow and pointed and contrastingly paler than the adjacent greater coverts on HY/SY birds, and relatively broad and rounded and not contrasting in colour or wear with the greater coverts on AHY/ASY birds; this distinction can be difficult to make with this species Note that, as is the case for many sparrows, a large percentage of intermediates cannot be reliably aged in spring.

January - July:

ASY - U Relatively broad, rounded, fresh rectrices; primary coverts rounded and uniform in colour and wear with greater coverts.       SY - U Relatively narrow, tapered, worn rectrices; primary coverts somewhat faded and narrow

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June - December:

AHY - U Black and white crown stripes HY - U Brown and tan crown stripes

Occasionally a few brown/tan feathers remaining in the crown can be used to recognize a second-year bird, but in most cases the overall body plumage is of no help in determining age in spring.

Photo by Marie-Anne Hudson, McGill Bird Observatory, May 2006

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The primary coverts may be paler than the greater coverts, but it is a subtle contrast that is not always visible, as the photo below reflects; the shape of the outer primary coverts (relatively narrow and pointed) may be more useful (not visible in this photo).

Photo by Marie-Anne Hudson, McGill Bird Observatory, May 2006
 

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The rectrices tend to be relatively narrow and tapered toward the tip, and showing a fair amount of wear; the juvenal rectrices in this species tend not to be as pointed as in some other species, making this a tricky criterion to use if unfamiliar with the within-species variation.

Photo by Marie-Anne Hudson, McGill Bird Observatory, May 2006

RETURN TO AGE/SEX OVERVIEW

 

In fall, the crown pattern alone is sufficient to correctly age White-crowned Sparrows, as any individual with a black/white pattern is an after-hatch-year bird.  Note that the pattern varies by subspecies; all the individuals banded to date at MBO are of the Eastern race.

Photo by Marie-Anne Hudson, McGill Bird Observatory, October 2007

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, McGill Bird Observatory, October 2005

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, McGill Bird Observatory, October 2005
 

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The primary coverts are fresh and dark, uniform in colour and wear with the greater coverts.

Photo by Marie-Anne Hudson, McGill Bird Observatory, October 2007

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, McGill Bird Observatory, October 2005
 

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The rectrices are relatively broad and rounded at the tip, and generally in good condition; as rectrix shape varies less in White-crowned Sparrow than many other sparrows, there is no need to refer to it in fall when crown pattern is a reliable indicator of age; however, doing so as a matter of routine will help provide experience regarding the limited within-species variation between HY/SY and AHY/ASY birds.

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, McGill Bird Observatory, October 2005

RETURN TO AGE/SEX OVERVIEW

 

In fall, the crown pattern alone is sufficient to correctly age White-crowned Sparrows, as any individual with a brown/tan pattern is a hatch-year bird. 

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, McGill Bird Observatory, October 2005

Photo by Marie-Anne Hudson, McGill Bird Observatory, October 2007
 

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Although the contrast is subtle, this photo shows that the primary coverts tend to be slightly paler and duller than the greater coverts, which have been replaced in the first prebasic moult.

Photo by Marie-Anne Hudson, McGill Bird Observatory, October 2007

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, McGill Bird Observatory, October 2005
 

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The rectrices are relatively narrow and pointed at the tip, and generally showing some wear; as rectrix shape varies less in White-crowned Sparrow than many other sparrows, there is no need to refer to it in fall when crown pattern is a reliable indicator of age; however, doing so as a matter of routine will help provide experience regarding the limited within-species variation between HY/SY and AHY/ASY birds.

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, McGill Bird Observatory, October 2005

RETURN TO AGE/SEX OVERVIEW