LC
Golden-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia atricapilla



Taxonomy

Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A., Fishpool, L.D.C., Boesman, P. and Kirwan, G.M. 2016. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 2: Passerines. Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - -

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2021 Least Concern
2016 Least Concern
2012 Least Concern
2009 Least Concern
2008 Least Concern
2004 Least Concern
2000 Lower Risk/Least Concern
1994 Lower Risk/Least Concern
1988 Lower Risk/Least Concern
Species attributes

Migratory status full migrant Forest dependency low
Land-mass type Average mass -
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 4,010,000 km2 medium
Extent of Occurrence (non-breeding) 1,780,000 km2 medium
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 7500000 mature individuals poor estimated 2020
Population trend decreasing - inferred -
Rate of change over the past 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 13% - - -
Generation length 2.52 years - - -

Population justification: The global population is estimated to number 7,500,000 mature individuals (Partners in Flight 2020).

Trend justification: The species is undergoing a moderate decline at an average rate of 1.4% per year (Partners in Flight 2019), which equates to a decline of 13% over the past ten years.


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
Canada extant native yes yes yes
Japan extant vagrant
Mexico extant native yes
Russia extant vagrant
Russia (Asian) extant vagrant
USA extant native yes yes yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Forest Temperate suitable non-breeding
Grassland Tundra suitable breeding
Shrubland Boreal suitable breeding
Shrubland Temperate suitable breeding
Wetlands (inland) Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands suitable breeding
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Rivers/Streams/Creeks (includes waterfalls) suitable breeding
Altitude   Occasional altitudinal limits  

Utilisation
Purpose Scale
Pets/display animals, horticulture international

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Species factsheet: Golden-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia atricapilla. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/golden-crowned-sparrow-zonotrichia-atricapilla on 10/01/2025.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2025) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 10/01/2025.