Bird
White-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia leucophrys
A winter visitor to Mississippi, found in all 82 counties and 5 habitats.
- Here
- Winter
- Nesting
- Not known to nest here
- Range
- All 82 counties
- Habitats
- 5

At a glance
- Group
- Birds
- Here
- Winter
- Nesting
- Not known to nest here
- Range
- All 82 counties
- Habitats
- 5
- Habitat models
- Winter
Where it lives
The places its habitat model includes. It is not found everywhere a habitat occurs.
Habitats in Mississippi 5
Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.
Disturbed and introduced wetlands
Wet ground taken over by weedy or introduced plants after disturbance, such as common reed, Chinese tallow or tamarisk stands; the upland counterpart is roadsides, fields and disturbed ground.
Borders of forests, clearings and shrubby thickets.
Open, grass-dominated places kept open by fire, grazing or thin soil, from tallgrass prairie to Piedmont prairies.
Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground
Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.
Tree plantations and managed pine
Planted or intensively managed stands of pine or hardwoods grown for timber; a land use rather than a natural community.
Other habitats in its models (81)
Land cover, or classes with no habitat page in Mississippi. Those recorded in Mississippi first, the rest by region.
Elsewhere in the South (38)
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Upland Longleaf Pine Woodland Winter.
- Central and South Texas Coastal Fringe Forest and Woodland Winter.
- Central Florida Pine Flatwoods Winter.
- Central Interior Highlands Calcareous Glade and Barrens Winter.
- Central Interior Highlands Dry Acidic Glade and Barrens Winter.
- Crosstimbers Oak Forest and Woodland Winter.
- Cumberland Sandstone Glade and Barrens Winter.
- East-Central Texas Plains Floodplain Forest Winter.
- East-Central Texas Plains Pine Forest and Woodland Winter.
- East-Central Texas Plains Post Oak Savanna and Woodland Winter.
- East-Central Texas Plains Riparian Forest Winter.
- Edwards Plateau Limestone Savanna and Woodland Winter.
- Florida Peninsula Inland Scrub Winter.
- Lower Mississippi River Dune Woodland and Forest Winter.
- Mississippi River Alluvial Plain Dry-Mesic Loess Slope Forest Winter.
- Nashville Basin Limestone Glade Winter.
- Ozark-Ouachita Dry Oak Woodland Winter.
- Ozark-Ouachita Shortleaf Pine-Bluestem Woodland Winter.
- Ozark-Ouachita Shortleaf Pine-Oak Forest and Woodland Winter.
- Ridge and Valley Calcareous Valley Bottom Glade and Woodland Winter.
- South Florida Dwarf Cypress Savanna Winter.
- South Florida Pine Flatwoods Winter.
- South Texas Lomas Winter.
- Southeastern Interior Longleaf Pine Woodland Winter.
- Southern Appalachian Grass and Shrub Bald Winter.
- Southern Appalachian Montane Pine Forest and Woodland Winter.
- Southern Piedmont Glade and Barrens Winter.
- Tamaulipan Calcareous Thornscrub Winter.
- Tamaulipan Mixed Deciduous Thornscrub Winter.
- West Gulf Coastal Plain Catahoula Barrens Winter.
- West Gulf Coastal Plain Chenier and Upper Texas Coastal Fringe Forest and Woodland Winter.
- West Gulf Coastal Plain Large River Floodplain Forest Winter.
- West Gulf Coastal Plain Pine-Hardwood Flatwoods Winter.
- West Gulf Coastal Plain Sandhill Oak and Shortleaf Pine Forest and Woodland Winter.
- West Gulf Coastal Plain Small Stream and River Forest Winter.
- West Gulf Coastal Plain Upland Longleaf Pine Forest and Woodland Winter.
- Western Great Plains Floodplain Winter.
- Western Great Plains Mesquite Woodland and Shrubland Winter.
Northeast (3)
- Central Appalachian Alkaline Glade and Woodland Winter.
- Central Appalachian Pine-Oak Rocky Woodland Winter.
- Northeastern Interior Pine Barrens Winter.
Midwest (8)
- Central Tallgrass Prairie Winter.
- Eastern Great Plains Tallgrass Aspen Parkland Winter.
- North-Central Interior Dry Oak Forest and Woodland Winter.
- North-Central Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest and Woodland Winter.
- North-Central Interior Oak Savanna Winter.
- North-Central Oak Barrens Winter.
- Northwestern Great Plains Floodplain Winter.
- Western Great Plains Wooded Draw and Ravine Winter.
Land cover and other classes (32)
- Allegheny-Cumberland Dry Oak Forest and Woodland - Hardwood Winter.
- Allegheny-Cumberland Dry Oak Forest and Woodland - Pine Modifier Winter.
- Arkansas Valley Prairie and Woodland Winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Fall-Line Sandhills Longleaf Pine Woodland - Loblolly Modifier Winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Fall-line Sandhills Longleaf Pine Woodland - Offsite Hardwood Modifier Winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Fall-line Sandhills Longleaf Pine Woodland - Open Understory Modifier Winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Fall-line Sandhills Longleaf Pine Woodland - Scrub/Shrub Understory Modifier Winter.
- Central Interior and Appalachian Shrub-Herbaceous Wetland Systems Winter.
- Developed, Low Intensity Winter.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Black Belt Calcareous Prairie and Woodland - Woodland Modifier Winter.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Upland Longleaf Pine Woodland - Loblolly Modifier Winter.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Upland Longleaf Pine Woodland - Offsite Hardwood Modifier Winter.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Upland Longleaf Pine Woodland - Open Understory Modifier Winter.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Upland Longleaf Pine Woodland - Scrub/Shrub Modifier Winter.
- Eastern Great Plains Floodplain Systems Winter.
- Florida Longleaf Pine Sandhill - Scrub/Shrub Understory Modifier Winter.
- Harvested Forest - Grass/Forb Regeneration Winter.
- Introduced Upland Vegetation - Annual Grassland Winter.
- Introduced Upland Vegetation - Forbland Winter.
- Introduced Upland Vegetation - Perennial Grassland Winter.
- Introduced Upland Vegetation - Perennial Grassland and Forbland Winter.
- Introduced Upland Vegetation - Shrub Winter.
- Recently Burned Winter.
- Recently Burned Forest Winter.
- Recently Burned Grassland Winter.
- Recently Burned Shrubland Winter.
- Recently Logged Areas Winter.
- Southern Appalachian Grass and Shrub Bald - Herbaceous Modifier Winter.
- Southern Appalachian Grass and Shrub Bald - Shrub Modifier Winter.
- Tamaulipan Mesquite Upland Scrub Winter.
- Tamaulipan Riparian Systems Winter.
- Western Great Plains Floodplain Systems Winter.
Seasons in Mississippi
- Winter: does not nest here, in all 82 counties.
Food plants
Diet records by plant genus, from studies across North America. Not a record from this state. Plants matched by genus.
Native plants in these genera 208
- Palmer's AmaranthAmaranthus palmeri
- Rough-fruit AmaranthAmaranthus tuberculatus
- Smooth PigweedAmaranthus hybridus
- Southern Water-hempAmaranthus australis
- Carex atlantica subsp. atlanticaCarex atlantica subsp. atlantica
- Carex atlantica subsp. capillaceaCarex atlantica subsp. capillacea
- Carex baltzelliiCarex baltzellii
- Carex bromoides subsp. bromoidesCarex bromoides subsp. bromoides
- Carex communis var. communisCarex communis var. communis
- Carex dasycarpaCarex dasycarpa
- Carex scoparia var. scopariaCarex scoparia var. scoparia
- Carex striata var. striataCarex striata var. striata
- Crawes SedgeCarex crawei
- Eastern Fox SedgeCarex triangularis
- False Hair SedgeCarex bulbostylis
- Hammock SedgeCarex fissa
- Hammock SedgeCarex fissa var. aristata
- Little Tooth SedgeCarex microdonta
- Painted SedgeCarex picta
- Tissue SedgeCarex hyalina
- Troublesome SedgeCarex molesta
- Unknown SedgeCarex ignota
- James's SedgeCarex jamesii
- Rich-woods SedgeCarex oligocarpa
Plant genera in its diet records (37)
- Avena Seeds. 2 diet records. 0 native plants in Mississippi
- Triticum Seeds. 2 diet records. 0 native plants in Mississippi
- Amaranthus Seeds. 1 diet record. 4 native plants in Mississippi
- Anthemis Seeds. 1 diet record. 0 native plants in Mississippi
- Brassica Seeds. 1 diet record. 0 native plants in Mississippi
- Calandrinia Seeds. 1 diet record. 0 native plants in Mississippi
- Carex Seeds. 1 diet record. 131 native plants in Mississippi
- Cassia Seeds. 1 diet record. 0 native plants in Mississippi
- Ceanothus Seeds. 1 diet record. 1 native plant in Mississippi
- Centaurea Seeds. 1 diet record. 0 native plants in Mississippi
- Chenopodium Seeds. 1 diet record. 3 native plants in Mississippi
- Claytonia Seeds. 1 diet record. 2 native plants in Mississippi
- Deinandra Seeds. 1 diet record. 0 native plants in Mississippi
- Erodium Seeds. 1 diet record. 0 native plants in Mississippi
- Eschscholzia Seeds. 1 diet record. 0 native plants in Mississippi
- Ficus Fruit. 1 diet record. 0 native plants in Mississippi
- Geranium Seeds. 1 diet record. 2 native plants in Mississippi
- Helianthus Seeds. 1 diet record. 18 native plants in Mississippi
- Lactuca Seeds. 1 diet record. 7 native plants in Mississippi
- Lupinus Seeds. 1 diet record. 4 native plants in Mississippi
- Madia Seeds. 1 diet record. 0 native plants in Mississippi
- Phalaris Seeds. 1 diet record. 1 native plant in Mississippi
- Polygonum Seeds. 1 diet record. 1 native plant in Mississippi
- Portulaca Seeds. 1 diet record. 1 native plant in Mississippi
- Prunus Fruit. 1 diet record. 7 native plants in Mississippi
- Rubus Fruit. 1 diet record. 6 native plants in Mississippi
- Rumex Seeds. 1 diet record. 3 native plants in Mississippi
- Sambucus Fruit. 1 diet record. 1 native plant in Mississippi
- Silene Seeds. 1 diet record. 6 native plants in Mississippi
- Solanum Seeds. 1 diet record. 3 native plants in Mississippi
- Sonchus Seeds. 1 diet record. 0 native plants in Mississippi
- Sorghum Seeds. 1 diet record. 0 native plants in Mississippi
- Spergula Seeds. 1 diet record. 0 native plants in Mississippi
- Stellaria Seeds. 1 diet record. 2 native plants in Mississippi
- Toxicodendron Seeds. 1 diet record. 3 native plants in Mississippi
- Trifolium Seeds. 1 diet record. 2 native plants in Mississippi
- Zea Seeds. 1 diet record. 0 native plants in Mississippi
Also found in its main habitats
Its main habitats in Mississippi, by how much of its habitat model each one is, with the birds most characteristic of each and the plants that grow wild there. Shared habitat, not food.
Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground
Birds 119
- Cape May WarblerDendroica tigrina
- Grasshopper SparrowAmmodramus savannarum
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- Long-eared OwlAsio otus
- Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachus
- Smith's LongspurCalcarius pictus
- Upland SandpiperBartramia longicauda
- Rock PigeonColumba livia
- Bronzed CowbirdMolothrus aeneus
- DickcisselSpiza americana
- Bell's VireoVireo bellii
- Black-bellied PloverPluvialis squatarola
Plants 1094
- Muck SunflowerHelianthus simulans
- Annual FleabaneErigeron annuus
- Canada LettuceLactuca canadensis
- Common Evening-primroseOenothera biennis
- Cutleaf Evening-primroseOenothera laciniata
- Dog-fennelEupatorium capillifolium
- Threadleaf SundropsOenothera linifolia
- Carolina Crane's-billGeranium carolinianum
- Carolina HorsenettleSolanum carolinense var. carolinense
- Blackeyed SusanRudbeckia hirta var. pulcherrima
- Downy Ground-cherryPhysalis pubescens
- Gray Ground-cherryPhysalis grisea
All of roadsides, fields and disturbed ground in Mississippi
Forest edges and thickets
Birds 66
- VeeryCatharus fuscescens
- Bell's VireoVireo bellii
- Blue-winged WarblerVermivora pinus
- Chestnut-sided WarblerDendroica pensylvanica
- Golden-winged WarblerVermivora chrysoptera
- Magnolia WarblerDendroica magnolia
- Rufous HummingbirdSelasphorus rufus
- Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax traillii
- Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorum
- American Tree SparrowSpizella arborea
- Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmus
- Buff-bellied HummingbirdAmazilia yucatanensis
Plants 172
- Rosinweed SunflowerHelianthus silphioides
- Southern DewberryRubus trivialis
- Buffalo CloverTrifolium reflexum
- Giant SunflowerHelianthus giganteus
- Cutleaf GoldenrodSolidago arguta
- Hairy GoldenrodSolidago hispida var. hispida
- Old Field AsterSymphyotrichum pilosum var. pilosum
- Hairy LettuceLactuca hirsuta
- Upland BonesetEupatorium sessilifolium
- Earleaf GreenbrierSmilax auriculata
- Creeping LespedezaLespedeza repens
- Matted CrowngrassPaspalum minus
Tree plantations and managed pine
Birds 56
- Evening GrosbeakCoccothraustes vespertinus
- Blue-winged WarblerVermivora pinus
- Cerulean WarblerDendroica cerulea
- Golden-winged WarblerVermivora chrysoptera
- Magnolia WarblerDendroica magnolia
- Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostra
- Yellow-throated VireoVireo flavifrons
- Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorum
- Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmus
- Buff-bellied HummingbirdAmazilia yucatanensis
- Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianus
- Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterus
Plants 1
- Loblolly PinePinus taeda
Sources
- USGS Gap Analysis Project habitat models (2001)
- USGS GAP winter habitat model for White-crowned Sparrow
- USGS Gap Analysis Project range maps (2001), modeled by watershed; migratory gives no dates
- NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0), habitat names
- US Census TIGER/Line counties
- Names follow the USGS Gap Analysis Project (2001)
- Avian Diet Database (Hurlbert Lab) (CC0 1.0), diet records by plant genus



















































