Birdsong field guide
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia atricapilla
A large, distinctive sparrow of the Pacific Coast known for its bright yellow crown patch and mournful, three-note whistled song.
What it sounds like
A slow, melancholy series of three descending whistled notes, often transcribed as 'Oh-dear-me'.
Reference call, compare with what you heard
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Field notes
- During the Klondike Gold Rush, prospectors nicknamed the bird 'No Gold Here' because its song sounded like a weary lament.
- Wintering birds establish a social hierarchy where individuals with larger, brighter gold crown patches typically hold higher status.
- They are frequent visitors to backyard feeders but are highly loyal to specific wintering sites, often returning to the same garden year after year.
- Unlike many other migratory songbirds, they primarily migrate at night to avoid predators and use the stars for navigation.
- The species is almost entirely herbivorous during the winter, shifting to a protein-rich diet of insects only during the summer breeding season.
Habitat
Tundra thickets and alpine scrub for breeding; coastal chaparral, brushy edges, and gardens for wintering.
Range
Breeds across Alaska and Northwest Canada; winters along the Pacific Coast from British Columbia to Baja California.
Similar & commonly confused birds
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