{"id":2772,"date":"2019-11-21T19:59:06","date_gmt":"2019-11-21T19:59:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/biol325\/?p=2772"},"modified":"2019-11-21T19:59:08","modified_gmt":"2019-11-21T19:59:08","slug":"our-most-valuable-vocalist-the-white-crowned-sparrow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/biol325\/2019\/11\/21\/our-most-valuable-vocalist-the-white-crowned-sparrow\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Most Valuable Vocalist: The White-crowned Sparrow"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

INTRODUCTION<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

White-crowned Sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys<\/em>) are a common species found here on the west coast of North America. These charming little birds are regular visitors to our yards and bird feeders, and their melodious song is often the background music to our springtime outings. Their bold, black and white heads allow the adults of this species to be readily identified, and they often seem perfectly comfortable to continue their activities as we look on from a short distance away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A White-crowned Sparrow showing off its eye-catching head of black and white stripes that this species is known for. (Photo by Brian Sullivan<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The qualities of these sparrows have not gone unnoticed, in fact, they have been catching the attention of people for centuries! Its conspicuous nature, as well as its wide range and ability to thrive in captivity (Cornell Lab of Ornitholog<\/a>y<\/a>) have made it so attractive to ornithologists that White-crowned Sparrows have been referred to as the “white rat of ornithology” (Hultsch and Todt, 2004<\/a>). Their songs in particular have been well studied and a great deal of what we know about birdsong development and modification has come from this species (Cornell Lab of Ornithology<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

IDENTIFICATIION <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

White-crowned sparrows prefer habitats with low shrubs and grasses like meadows and forest edges where they can hop around on the ground looking for seeds, vegetable matter and insects to feed on. (Cornell University: All About Birds<\/a>) They are on the larger end of the sparrow family (Passerellidae), weighing in at about 27 grams, with a body length of 17 cm and a wingspan of 24 cm (Sibley, 2016<\/a>). Their bellies are a pale grey with brown flanks, and their wings have white bars with a pattern of brownish stripes, characteristic of many sparrows. Of course their most notable feature, the distinctive crown of black and white stripes, is the what lends these birds their name (Canadian Wildlife Federation<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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