{"id":143217,"date":"2025-05-01T02:46:36","date_gmt":"2025-05-01T07:46:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=143217"},"modified":"2025-04-30T10:27:31","modified_gmt":"2025-04-30T15:27:31","slug":"white-crowned-sparrow-in-spring","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2025\/05\/01\/white-crowned-sparrow-in-spring\/","title":{"rendered":"White-crowned Sparrow In Spring"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today I’m sharing a lingering adult White-crowned Sparrow that I photographed from the deck three days ago. I\u2019d been listening to it sing<\/span><\/a> for several days.<\/p>\n

\"AdultAdult White-crowned Sparrow in spring \u2013 Canon R7, handheld, f8, 1\/200, ISO 1000, +0.3 EV, Canon EF 100-400mm II at 400mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

This White-crowned Sparrow is an Eastern Taiga subspecies, Zonotrichia leucophrys nigrilora<\/em>. They look most similar to the Interior West subspecies, Zonotrichia leucophrys oriantha<\/em>.<\/p>\n

I used to photograph the Interior West subspecies in Utah, Idaho, and Montana when I lived out west.<\/p>\n

White-crowned Sparrows appear over much of North America during their breeding and nonbreeding season. They can be found in open woods, open grasslands, gardens, mountains, forests, and backyards.<\/p>\n

Very soon these White-crowned Sparrows will leave for their breeding grounds, if they haven\u2019t already. I haven\u2019t seen this sparrow in a day now, but we had storms roll through and I wasn\u2019t outside as much as usual.<\/p>\n

The sparrow had come into the seed feeder, and I took advantage of the opportunity to photograph him or her out in the open.<\/p>\n

White-crowned Sparrows mainly eat seeds but during the summer they will eat caterpillars, wasps, beetles, and other insects.<\/p>\n

Before long, this handsome sparrow with the black and white stripes on its crown will be raising their young.<\/p>\n

They\u2019ll return here in the fall and brighten up the winter when they visit the feeders and sing nearby.<\/p>\n

Spring is such an awesome, birdy season!<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to view more of my White-crowned Sparrow photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Today I’m sharing a lingering adult White-crowned Sparrow that I photographed from the deck three days ago. I\u2019d been listening to it sing for several days.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":143214,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[13950,27,13951,356],"tags":[4004,16431,13981,13931,4921,855,4195,165,15824,4327,13966,4256,14977],"class_list":["post-143217","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arkansas","category-avian","category-sebastian-county","category-white-crowned-sparrows","tag-adult","tag-eastern-taiga-subspecies","tag-feeder","tag-garden","tag-rock","tag-sparrow","tag-sparrows","tag-spring","tag-suburban","tag-white-crowned-sparrow","tag-yard","tag-zonotrichia-leucophrys","tag-zonotrichia-leucophrys-nigrilora"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/white-crowned-sparrow-eastern-taiga-miia-mcpherson-9280.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-BfX","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":128080,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/05\/01\/white-crowned-sparrow-photos-from-arkansas\/","url_meta":{"origin":143217,"position":0},"title":"White-crowned Sparrow Photos From Arkansas","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 1, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"I didn't know I would be taking White-crowned Sparrow photos on my visit to Arkansas, but they do overwinter here. Thankfully, they haven't all migrated yet.","rel":"","context":"In "Arkansas"","block_context":{"text":"Arkansas","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/arkansas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Adult White-crowned Sparrow in Arkansas, Sebastian County, Arkansas","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/white-crowned-sparrow-arkansas-mia-mcpherson-1533.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/white-crowned-sparrow-arkansas-mia-mcpherson-1533.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/white-crowned-sparrow-arkansas-mia-mcpherson-1533.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/white-crowned-sparrow-arkansas-mia-mcpherson-1533.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":116305,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/09\/27\/interior-west-white-crowned-sparrow-adult\/","url_meta":{"origin":143217,"position":1},"title":"Interior West White-crowned Sparrow Adult","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"September 27, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"When I was at Farmington Bay WMA on Monday, I found and photographed a gorgeous Interior West White-crowned Sparrow adult perched on a Greasewood shrub.","rel":"","context":"In "Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge"","block_context":{"text":"Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Interior West White-crowned Sparrow perched in Greasewood, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/white-crowned-sparrow-fall-mia-mcpherson-1941.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/white-crowned-sparrow-fall-mia-mcpherson-1941.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/white-crowned-sparrow-fall-mia-mcpherson-1941.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/white-crowned-sparrow-fall-mia-mcpherson-1941.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":135729,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/10\/16\/fall-brings-white-crowned-and-white-throated-sparrows-to-arkansas\/","url_meta":{"origin":143217,"position":2},"title":"Fall Brings White-crowned and White-throated Sparrows to Arkansas","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"October 16, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Fall will bring White-throated and White-crowned Sparrows back to Arkansas for their non-breeding season. I\u2019m super excited about their impending arrival.","rel":"","context":"In "Arkansas"","block_context":{"text":"Arkansas","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/arkansas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"White-throated Sparrow with an eye on me, Sebastian County, Arkansas","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/white-throated-sparrow-arkansas-adult-mia-mcpherson-9388.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/white-throated-sparrow-arkansas-adult-mia-mcpherson-9388.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/white-throated-sparrow-arkansas-adult-mia-mcpherson-9388.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/white-throated-sparrow-arkansas-adult-mia-mcpherson-9388.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":121898,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/02\/26\/winter-white-crowned-sparrow-portrait\/","url_meta":{"origin":143217,"position":3},"title":"Winter White-crowned Sparrow Portrait","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"February 26, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"I haven't seen as many sparrows this winter as I typically do, so I was tickled to take a few White-crowned Sparrow portraits at Farmington Bay WMA on Friday.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Winter White-crowned Sparrow adult portrait, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/white-crowned-sparrow-adult-winter-portrait-mia-mcpherson-9496.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/white-crowned-sparrow-adult-winter-portrait-mia-mcpherson-9496.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/white-crowned-sparrow-adult-winter-portrait-mia-mcpherson-9496.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/white-crowned-sparrow-adult-winter-portrait-mia-mcpherson-9496.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":138723,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2025\/01\/13\/three-zonotrichia-sparrows-in-arkansas-winters\/","url_meta":{"origin":143217,"position":4},"title":"Three Zonotrichia Sparrows in Arkansas Winters","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 13, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday, I had a trifecta of Zonotrichia sparrows in my viewfinder. These are photos of the three Zonotrichia sparrows that visit Arkansas during the winter.","rel":"","context":"In "Arkansas"","block_context":{"text":"Arkansas","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/arkansas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Snowy adult White-throated Sparrow, Sebastian County, Arkansas","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/white-throated-sparrow-snowstorm-mia-mcpherson-9912.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/white-throated-sparrow-snowstorm-mia-mcpherson-9912.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/white-throated-sparrow-snowstorm-mia-mcpherson-9912.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/white-throated-sparrow-snowstorm-mia-mcpherson-9912.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9466,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2013\/09\/14\/white-crowned-sparrow-on-a-rusty-wire-fence\/","url_meta":{"origin":143217,"position":5},"title":"White-crowned Sparrow On A Rusty Wire Fence","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"September 14, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"In the Centennial Valley of Montana at this time of the year I see plenty of White-crowned Sparrows of the interior west sub-species and although most of them that I see are juveniles there are also adults hanging around foraging too.","rel":"","context":"In "Beaverhead County"","block_context":{"text":"Beaverhead County","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/montana\/beaverhead-county-montana\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Adult White-crowned Sparrow on a wire fence in the Centennial Valley of Beaverhead County, Montana. 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