This species is named for its bold black and white crown striping. Geographic variation is significant with five recognized subspecies.
"Eastern" (Z. l. leucophrys) and "Mountain" (Z. l. oriantha) White-crowned Sparrow have black lores, while the "Gambel's" (Z. l. gambelii), Nuttall's (Z. l. nuttalli) and Puget Sound (Z. l. pugetensis) populations are pale-lored; otherwise, differences are subtle. Dark-lored populations (Eastern and Mountain) have pinkish bills, Gambel's have yellow-orangish bills with little if any dusky on the tip, and Pacific Coast populations (Nuttall's and Puget Sound) have dark corn-yellow bills with dusky tips. The upper back pattern on adults varies from pale gray with rich chestnut streaks (Eastern and Gambel's), medium gray with warm dark brown streaking (Mountain and Nuttall's) to dingy pale earth brown with near-black streaking (Puget Sound). The rump is warmer gray-brown on Eastern, Nuttall's and Puget Sound populations, while Gambel's and Mountain populations have slightly colder and grayer clay-colored rumps and lower backs. All forms show two white wingbars. In adult birds, the nape, face and underparts vary from bright pearl gray, to a warmer buffy-gray, with brownish wash on the flanks. Compared to eastern and interior forms, Pacific Coast populations are generally dingier buffy-gray below with extensive brown on their flanks. Hatch-year and first-winter birds are similar to adults, but the lateral crown stripes are rich reddish-chestnut (Gambel's) to darker chestnut-brown (Eastern, Nuttall's, Puget Sound). The supercilia of most forms are pale golden-buff to buff, while immature Gambel's have paler cream-colored supercilia that contrast noticeably with the rest of the face pattern, creating a look that resembles an immature Chipping Sparrow. Median crown stripes range from pale cream-colored to golden-buff. The lateral crown stripes of Gambel's tend to look narrower than those of other forms, thus their median crown stripes are often more obvious. The post-ocular stripe tends to look thin and horizontal on Gambel's, while the post-ocular stripes on other forms often look a bit flared and slightly upcurved towards the nape. The juveniles of all subspecies show extensively streaked underparts.

Length: 17 (cm) Wingspan: 23 (cm)

Voice:

Song begins with a clear whistle, followed by several trills and buzzes.

Habitat:

Uses a wide range of habitats, from boreal forest, tundra, and alpine meadows to parking lots and hedgerows.

Behavior:

Often forms large flocks in winter.

Feeding:

Forages for seeds, fruit, and insects, usually on or close to the ground.