I didn’t know I would be taking White-crowned Sparrow photos on my visit to Arkansas, but they do overwinter here. Thankfully, they haven’t all migrated yet.

Adult White-crowned Sparrow in Arkansas, Sebastian County, ArkansasAdult White-crowned Sparrow in Arkansas – Nikon D500, f8, 1/640, ISO 1000, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

While I have taken White-crowned Sparrow photos before, I believe this is my first time taking images of the Eastern Taiga subspecies, Zonotrichia leucophrys nigrilora.

I must admit that I got these White-crowned Sparrows confused with the Interior West subspecies, Zonotrichia leucophrys oriantha, which I am far more familiar with.

Sorry, Steve, I almost steered you wrong on this identification. Mea culpa. I’m glad I did more investigating.

David Sibley, celebrated author of bird guides and esteemed expert in bird identification, provides a valuable resource for identifying White-crowned Sparrows on his website.

White-crowned Sparrow in Arkansas, Sebastian County, ArkansasWhite-crowned Sparrow in Arkansas – Nikon D500, f8, 1/640, ISO 1000, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

I’ve enjoyed photographing the lingering White-crowned and White-throated Sparrows that have come into the feeder in Steve’s garden. Sometimes the two sparrow species have fed side by side without issue; sometimes they squabbled and fought. The White-throated Sparrows may have taken off for their breeding grounds because it has been several days since I have seen one.

I hope to take more photos of these sparrows before they leave to head to their breeding grounds.

Sparrows are never ‘just little brown birds’ to me. Not only are they fun to photograph and beautiful, but I also enjoy the challenge of identifying them. I should be seeing some new (to me) species of them soon! I’m looking forward to that.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to view more of my White-crowned Sparrow photos plus facts and information about this species.