Family: Emberizidae, New World Sparrows view all from this family

Description 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 "mustache" stripe.

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

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

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

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

Discussion One or two of these sparrows often join winter flocks of White-crowned Sparrows. They live with the flock but feed more in the shelter of bushes and visit open lawns less often.