Golden-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla) is in the New World Sparrows family (Passerellidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 33,334 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in January.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: winter visitor. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Golden-crowned Sparrow: observations by month (U.S.)
About Golden-crowned Sparrow
The golden-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla) is a large American sparrow found in the western part of North America.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Golden-crowned Sparrow by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 24,175 | January | Oct–Apr |
| Oregon | 4,645 | April | Oct–Apr |
| Washington | 3,428 | April | Sep–Apr |
| Alaska | 697 | June | May–Sep |
| Arizona | 70 | April | Dec–Apr |
| Nevada | 64 | November | Oct–Jan |
| Colorado | 55 | January | Nov–Apr |
| New Mexico | 40 | January | Jan–Jan |
| Texas | 36 | January | Dec–Mar |
| Utah | 29 | January | Jan–Jan |
| Idaho | 15 | April | Apr–Apr |
| New York | 12 | November | Nov–Nov |
| Maryland | 11 | December | Dec–Jan |
| Ohio | 7 | January | Jan–Feb |
| Louisiana | 6 | February | Feb–Feb |
| Michigan | 6 | May | May–May |
| Illinois | 5 | November | Nov–Nov |
| North Carolina | 5 | December | Dec–Jan |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (New World Sparrows)
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Spotted Towhee
California Towhee
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Golden-crowned Sparrow?
Nationally, January has the most observations, with the main season from October to April.
Where is Golden-crowned Sparrow most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Oregon, Washington.