Rufous-crowned Sparrow Identification

Adult

Long-tailed sparrow with rufous cap, white eyering, and strong white-and-black "mustache" or malar stripes.

Adult

Overall grayish sparrow with rusty stripes on the back. Strong face pattern with rufous crown, white eyering, and dark stripes at sides of the throat.

Adult

Walks or hops, pecking or scratching at the ground for seeds and insects often under the protective cover of shrubs or dense grasses.

Adult

Long-tailed, grayish sparrow with rusty stripes on back. Rufous cap and stripe through eye; white eyering.

Adult

Found in open, shrubby areas on dry slopes with patchy ground cover. Avoids dense woody habitats.

Adult

Males sing a mix of slurs and chatters with a bubbly quality reminiscent of a Northern House Wren in spring and summer from exposed perches or while in flight.

Juvenile

Adult

Found in open, shrubby areas on dry slopes, often with areas of bare rock or patches of sparse grass.

Adult

Drinks water from small pools or gathers dew from vegetation. This video has no audio.

Adult

Look for Rufous-crowned Sparrows in spring or early summer when males sing in the early morning from exposed perches.