Tag Archives: White-crowned Sparrow singing

Shouqin Huo wrote, "The songs of the white-crowned sparrows have imprinted on me during my very first visit to the Mendonoma coast and over the years I have learned to associate the their songs with the area. I was happy to find this one in my garden singing without interruption while I moved close enough for a portrait"

"Of course, it took off when I got too close."

To hear the song of a White-crowned Sparrow, here is the link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's website: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-crowned_Sparrow/sounds

It's almost always the male doing the singing. Nice calls, Mr. W-c Sparrow!

Great photos! Thanks to Shouqin for allowing me to share his photos with you here.

The storms have left us with puffy clouds, lots of delicious sun, and some wind. Rain totals season to date - 60.93 inches! 50 inches is a nice, wet season, so we're doing great.

Craig Tooley has a knack for getting birds to stay still long enough for him to get a great photo. This Gold-crowned Sparrow obliged.

Here on the coast, it is much more likely to see a White-crowned Sparrow.

I love this photo of a White-crowned Sparrow singing. To hear this bird's call, here is a link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-crowned_Sparrow/sounds

To compare, here is the link to hear the Gold-crowned Sparrow: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Golden-crowned_Sparrow/sounds

Thanks to Craig for allowing me to share his photos with you here. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is the link to his website: www.ruffimage.com

On a visit to Gualala Point Regional Park on Thursday, Rick and I hiked along the bluffs. It was a warm beautiful day with little wind. I always bring a jacket when I head to the ocean but I didn't need it that day! The sweet song of a White-crowned Sparrow caught our attention and there he was sitting on top of a Lupine bush. In the warmth the smell from the Lupines was sweet indeed.

 Can you see what is in the photo below? Only Huckleberry's interest and a flash of movement alerted us that something was there.

 Here is a close-up of what Huckleberry saw - a snake in the grass. It was a long one too, well over a foot and a half long.

 And keeping with the hard to see theme, can you see the Deer looking at us? The grasses at the park are lush and full of feed. The Deer at the park are going to be very healthy.

 And lastly, here's a photo of Gualala Point Island, an important rookery for nesting seabirds.

It costs $7.00 for the day use fee. We purchased a Sonoma County Parks annual pass, which we use regularly. It is also good at all the Sea Ranch public access trails.

What I haven't shown you here is the beautiful beach at the park. That will have to wait for another post.

2 Comments

Even though it's winter, we've been hearing birdsong on the Mendonoma Coast. Craig Tooley photographed this White-crowned Sparrow and is kindly allowing me to share his photo with you here. This Sparrow looks like he's quite a singer!

To see more of Craig's wonderful nature photos, here's the link to his web site: http://ruffimage.com/
And to hear the sound of this bird, here the link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/white-crowned_sparrow/sounds/ac