Kathy and Tweeters,

The "pugetensis" subspecies of White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia
leucophrys pugetensis) is the breeding form throughout western
Washington. However, the vast majority of these birds head south for
the winter, wintering in California and southern Oregon.

The "gambelii" form of White-crowned, in fact, should be the "regular"
form of the species in the Seattle area from October through at least
mid-March (when the "pugetensis" begin returning). In the Vancouver,
BC area, and also in Whatcom County, more than 90% of wintering
White-crowns are "gambelii". They are also very common spring and fall
migrants through the area. Gambelii is also the form that winters in
the valleys of eastern Washington (and as far north as Kamloops, BC).
However, by the time you get to SW Oregon, pugetensis outnumbers
gambelii as a wintering bird.

The two subspecies, as well as being separable on visual field marks,
have very different songs. Gambelii will sing occasionally on sunny
days in the winter, and can easily be identified that way.

So I would expect that "gambelii", not "pugetensis", is the main
wintering form of White-crown in the Puget Sound area. If anyone can
enlighten us further on this situation, please do so!

Wayne C. Weber
Delta, BC
contopus at telus.net



----- Original Message -----
From: Kathy Andrich <chukarbird at yahoo.com>
To: <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Sunday, March 13, 2005 9:13 AM
Subject: [Tweeters] Boeing Pond Access


>
> Hi Tweeters,
>
< snip >
>
> Frager Road west of Boeing pond had the gambelii
> subspecies of White-crowned Sparrow. This is the
> first time I have really paid attention and noted the
> very different head markings. They are striking and
> noticably different than our regular White-crowneds.
>
> Kathy
> Roosting in S King County
>
>