Up in the NE corner of Washington, we are experiencing an unprecedented White-crowned Sparrow migration this year. For the first time many feeders are inundated with them! In the past there have always been a few moving through, and a few staying, but never at these levels. The second odd thing is that they are all males, no females seen yet. Are White-crowned Sparrow populations increasing in other areas? Is it typical for the males to move first?
-
Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.
Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
White-crowned Sparrows increasing? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter kstrating
- Start date
Hi K,
Out west the White-crowned is a very very common bird - in NM in winter you could find hundreds all in a small patch of scrubby field. Also the Males and Females are not separable in the field. I think you are thinking about immature birds which have the buff and brown head stripes.
Luke
Out west the White-crowned is a very very common bird - in NM in winter you could find hundreds all in a small patch of scrubby field. Also the Males and Females are not separable in the field. I think you are thinking about immature birds which have the buff and brown head stripes.
Luke
jcwings
Well-known member
White-crowned Sparrows have been departing So CA in the last couple of weeks. At least the migratory races, not the resident "Nuttall's" form. There are only a few stragglers at this point. It wouldn't surprise me if most of them have reached WA state by now. As Luke points out, males and females are identical in plumage.
