Golden-crowned Sparrow
Crown Sparrow ( Zonotrichia atricapilla )
The crown Sparrow ( Zonotrichia atricapilla ) is a monotypic Singvogelart from the bunting family. It occurs in northern North America. This Ammernart is classified by the IUCN as uncritical ( least concern ).
Appearance
The crown Ammer reaches a body length of 15-18 centimeters. The wingspan is 22 to 25 centimeters. The weight varies 22-35 grams.
The crown Ammer is a wholly insignificant looking Ammer. The only notable feature in breeding plumage, the yellow crest lining, which acts like a crown and to which it owes its name. It is surrounded on both sides by a dark stripe that extends to the eyes and down to the neck. The neck and the rest of the head are gray. The upper mandible is dark gray-brown, the lower mandible is slightly lighter and has yellowish in some individuals. The iris is brown. The body underside is gray, the flanks are reddish-brown wash. The under tail ceiling is white.
In Plain dress are the dark stripes that border the yellow crown stripe, narrower and paler. The feet and legs are pink then brown. Young birds resemble the adult, but the crown stripe is reddish brown.
Confusion possibilities especially with the roof Sammer and the Harris Ammer. Both, however, have pink beaks.
Distribution area
The crown Ammer is a Nearctic kind that breeds on the Aleutian Islands and west of Alaska. In the central region of Alaska, the crown Bunting is rare and northern Alaska it occurs only exceptionally. The distribution area covers the Western Canada up to British Columbia. Their habitat is thickets along forest edges. The crown bunting is a bird of passage, which runs to the west coast of the United States during the winter months.
Way of life
The crown Ammer is an omnivore that eats buds, seeds and arthropods. During the migration periods and winter crown sparrows are gregarious. In the breeding grounds, the males defend a breeding territory. Crown buntings enter into a monogamous pair bond that probably only a reproductive period is. The nest is located in thickets. It is built of grass and small twigs that Nistmulde is lined with grass and hair. Presumably it is built by the female alone. The nest consists of three to four eggs. These are mottled light brown or pale greenish and reddish brown. The incubation period is 11 to 13 days. It breeds only the female parent bird. The nestlings fledge after nine to eleven days. Crown buntings breed for the first time away at the age of one year.