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White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)
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uses bird feeders
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FIELD MARKS
The White-crowned Sparrow is very common in British Columbia. It is mostly
grey in colour, with bold black and white stripes on the top of its head
and two thinner stripes through its eyes. It also has a whitish patch
on its throat and a brown back with dark brown streaks. Its has two white
wing bars and a long, dark brown tail. Its grey breast has no striping
on it. Approximate length: 15 cm
FOOD
Mostly eats seeds and other vegetable matter and insects.
Mostly eats seeds in the winter and commonly frequents bird feeders.
HABITAT
This sparrow spends its summers along hedgerows and in the forests and
mountainous areas of our province. It can be seen around forest edges,
in thickets and even around gardens and parks. White-crowned Sparrows
that live around the coast tend to stay there all year round.
NESTING
Nests are usually built on the ground at the base of a shrub or a clump
of grass. The nests are made of grass, twigs, weeds and bark, lined with
fine grass, feathers and hair. The female lays 2-6 cream or pale green
eggs that have heavy reddish-brown spots.
STATUS
Stable.
DISTRIBUTION
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