White-crowned sparrow

The white-crowned sparrow is a large, long-tailed sparrow with bold black and white stripes on its head, a pale gray breast, and a pinkish-orange or yellow bill. Young birds wear brown and tan stripes instead, and get their crisp head pattern after their first winter.

White-crowned sparrows breed in the north, in shrubby tundra edges and open woodland, and pass through southern Manitoba in spring and fall on their way to and from the United States. They forage on the ground for seeds and insects, and often turn up under feeders and in gardens during migration.

I caught this one picking its way along a rock border in a flower garden, with the purple blooms behind it. The stripes made it easy to spot even in the busy background.

To find out more about the White-crowned sparrow and the places it lives, visit All About Birds.

White-crowned sparrow Manitoba sightings

Where and when you can find the White-crowned sparrow in Manitoba depends on the season and the habitat. You can see more species in the Manitoba birds section.

Back to Manitoba bird photography, or see the portfolio.