White-crowned Sparrow Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesWhite-crowned Sparrow
Adult (Dark-lored)
Large grayish sparrow with a long tail and often peaked head shape. Adults have very bold white and black stripes on the head.
© Michel Bourque / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, January 13, 2017Immature (Dark-lored)
Large sparrow with a fairly small bill. Immatures have rusty brown stripes on gray head. Note two white wingbars on brown wings.
© Drew Chaney / Macaulay LibraryVirginia, January 12, 2020Adult (Dark-lored)
A large, gray-and-brown sparrow with a small bill and long tail. Adult has a striking pattern of black and white stripes on the head. "Dark-lored" White-crowned Sparrows have a pinkish bill and brighter white head stripes than "Yellow-billed" birds.
© Brad Imhoff / Macaulay LibraryOhio, December 09, 2021Not all videos have sound
Adult (Gambel's)
"Gambel's" White-crowned Sparrows breeding in Alaska and northwestern Canada have gray or white lores and an orange to pink bill.
© Daniel Irons / Macaulay LibraryArizona, January 09, 2020Immature (Gambel's)
Immatures have similar head pattern to adults, but stripes are brown and gray instead of black and white.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, November 05, 2011Adult (Yellow-billed)
During migration and winter often found along edges of woodlots, hedgerows, thickets, weedy fields, suburbs, backyards, and city parks. "Yellow-billed" White-crowned Sparrows have duller head stripes and a yellowish bill.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, January 22, 2012Not all videos have sound
Adult (Yellow-billed)
"Yellow-billed" White-crowned Sparrows breeding along the Pacific Coast from British Columbia to California have duller head stripes and a yellowish bill.
© Mason Maron / Macaulay LibraryWashington, April 30, 2020Adult (Yellow-billed)
A large, long-tailed sparrow. "Yellow-billed" White-crowned Sparrows have brown flanks, dull white heard stripes, and a yellowish bill.
© Craig Fosdick / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, August 20, 2016Adult
Song varies between populations, but is always recognizable by the sweet, whistled introduction, a succession of jumbled whistles, and a buzz or trill near the end.
© Benjamin Clock / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, May 27, 2009Not all videos have sound
Immature (Yellow-billed)
White-crowned Sparrow populations in western North America have developed song dialects, with young males learning the basics of the song they will sing as an adult during the first two or three months of their life.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryWashington, September 11, 2014Juvenile
Juveniles have heavily streaked underparts and finely streaked brown head stripes.
© Tom Edell / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, July 02, 2019Habitat
Breeds in patchy boreal forest, alpine meadows, coastal scrub, and other grassy areas with scattered shrubs or trees. Winters in brushy fields, agricultural areas, roadsides, and thickets.
© Shannon Daniels / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 14, 2017Similar SpeciesWhite-throated Sparrow
Adult
Adult White-throated Sparrows have a bright white throat patch and yellow between the bill and the eyes. They often look dingier or less crisp overall than White-crowned Sparrows.
© Keenan Yakola / Macaulay LibraryMaine, May 04, 2015Similar SpeciesWhite-throated Sparrow
Immature
Immature White-throated Sparrows have black stripes on the crown, instead of immature White-crowned's reddish stripes. They have a grayish, not yellowish, bill, and usually show a neat white throat patch.
© Suzanne Labbé / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, November 09, 2016Similar SpeciesGolden-crowned Sparrow
Adult
Adult Golden-crowned Sparrows have no white on the head. The crown stripe is yellow, not white.
© George Pagos / Macaulay LibraryWashington, April 25, 2017Similar SpeciesGolden-crowned Sparrow
Immature
Immature Golden-crowned Sparrows usually have some yellow on the crown, helping to distinguish them from immature White-crowned Sparrows, which they closely resemble.
© Joshua Covill / Macaulay LibraryWashington, December 03, 2016Similar SpeciesHouse Sparrow
Female
Female House Sparrows are smaller, shorter tailed, and smaller billed, with an unmarked face and no white on the wing.
© Douglas Faulder / Macaulay LibraryAlberta, May 07, 2017Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
Compare with Similar Species
Click on an image to compare
Species in This Family
New World Sparrows(Order: Passeriformes, Family: Passerellidae)
Don't miss a thing! Join our email list
The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds,
birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation.