From Opus

Zonotrichia atricapilla

Adult breeding plumage. Photo by janruss.
Photo taken: Edmonds, Washington.

First winter plumage. Photo by: Gary Clark
Location: Coyote Hills Regional Park, California, USA

[edit] Identification

6-7" (15-18 cm). Similar to White-crowned Sparrow. Male's gold crown bordered by wide black cap. Dusky bill. Brown above, with unstreaked gray breast, cheek, and collar; 2 white wing bars. Fall immatures have 2 dark brown crown stripes with dusky yellowish central area and a trace of "moustache" stripe.

[edit] Distribution

Breeds from western Alaska south through Yukon Territory to northwestern Washington. Winters from Kodiak Island and coastal Alaska south to Baja California. Accidental vagrant to Japan.

[edit] Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species.

[edit] Habitat

Alpine meadows and coniferous forest clearings; winters in coastal brushland and chaparral.

[edit] Behaviour

Voice: Song consists of 3 descending plaintive notes sounding like oh, dear me. Calls are tseet and chink.

Nesting: 4 or 5 bluish, speckled eggs in a neat cup nest well hidden in a dense weed clump or bush.

[edit] External Links