What does the White-crowned Sparrow eat?

The White-crowned Sparrow's diet shapes where and when you'll find it. Understanding what it eats helps you predict where to look.

Diet overview

Primarily seeds, supplemented with insects (especially during breeding season), buds, and fruits. They are opportunistic foragers.

How it forages

Primarily ground feeders, often scratching with both feet simultaneously to uncover seeds and insects. They will also glean seeds from low vegetation and occasionally catch insects in flight. They often forage in flocks during migration and winter.

When it feeds

Diurnal, most active during early morning and late afternoon.

Explore the White-crowned Sparrow