White-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia leucophrys (Forster, JR, 1772) (0, 16)
Photo © By Wolfgang Wander - Own work / http://www.pbase.com/image/83910026, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2564266
STATUS
North America. Polytypic.
OVERVIEW
Two races of the five associated with the species have occurred here: the race Z. l. gambelii is from Alaska and western Canada, while Z. l. leucophrys is from central and eastern Canada which is identified by the lark pinkish bill and dark lores.
Five of the individuals arrived in the autumn, while two have been found during winter. The rest arrived between 30th April and 12th June.
BBRC RECORDS
1). 1977 Fair Isle Double Dyke, trapped, 15th May, released at Shirva, 15th to 16th May, photo.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 72: 542; Fair Isle Bird Observatory Report 1977: photo; R. A. Broad & R. G. Hawley, British Birds 73: 466-470, plate 235; Scottish Birds 10: plate 16b; BOURC (1980), Ibis 122: 565; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007: photo).
2). 1977 Yorkshire Hornsea Mere, 22nd May.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 72: 542; R. A. Broad & R. G. Hawley, British Birds 73: 466-470; BOURC (1980), Ibis 122: 565).
3). 1995 Lancashire & North Merseyside Seaforth, first-winter, 2nd October, photo.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 89: 525; White, McCarthy & Jones, 2008: photo).
4). 2008 Norfolk Cley-next-the-Sea, adult male, in song, 3rd January to 14th March, photo.
(British Birds 101: plate 65; Birding World 21 (1): 2, photo; R. & S. Bending, Birding World 21 (1): 14-18, plates 1, 3-6; Birding World 21 (2): 57, photos; Birding World 21 (3): 101, photo; Birding World 21 (12): 501, photo; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 102: 592, plate 391).
5). 2008 Fife St Michael's, near Leuchars, 17th to 18th May, photo.
(Birding World 21 (5): 193, photo; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 102: 592; J. Harwood, Scottish Birds 29: 260-261, plate 220).
6). 2016 Cheshire & Wirral Woolston Eyes, 2CY, trapped, 30th April, photo, Z. l. gambelii.
(British Birds 109: plate 203; C. Holt and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 110: 623; BOURC (2018) Ibis 160: 941; C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 113: 648).
7). 2016 Outer Hebrides Port of Ness, Lewis, 2CY, male, in song, 3rd to 4th May; presumed same, South Dell, Ness, Lewis, 31st May, photo, Z. l. leucophrys.
(J. Macfarlane & B. A. E. Marr, Scottish Birds 36: 260-263, plates 225-229; C. Holt and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 110: 623, plate 346; BOURC (2018) Ibis 160: 941; BOURC (2019), Ibis 162: 266; R. W. Forrester, Scottish Birds 40: 213).
8). 2017 Shetland Ham, Foula, 1CY, 8th to 11th October, photo.
(D. Atherton, Scottish Birds 38: 78-79, plates 68-70; C. Holt and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 111: 621, plate 409).
9). 2018 Shetland Ristie, Foula, 1CY, 30th September to 14th October, photo.
(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 112: 618, plate 352).
10). 2019 Argyll The Oa, Islay, 2CY+, male, 12th June, photo, Z. l. leucophrys.
(B. Wood, Scottish Birds 40: 79-80, plates 57 & 58; C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 113: 648).
11). 2020 Shetland Funzie, Fetlar, 2CY+, male, 15th May, photo, Z. l. leucophrys.
(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 114: 621).
12). 2021 Shetland Easting, Unst, 1CY, 5th to 9th November, photo.
(British Birds 114: plate 476; C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 115: 607, plate 464).
13). 2023 Sussex Seaford Head, 2CY+, 22nd to 29th April, photo, Z. l. gambelii.
(L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 727, plate 490).
14). 2023 North-East Scotland Girdle Ness, 2CY+, male, in song, 10th June, Z. l. leucophrys.
(British Birds 116: plate 281; R. Duncan, A. Brighten & A. Whitehouse, Scottish Birds 43: 354- 357, plate 299 & 300; L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 727).
15). 2023 Shetland Houbie, Fetlar, 1CY, 8th to 11th October, photo.
(British Birds 116: plate 421; A. C. Lees, A. Farnsworth, S. R. Curley & J. J. Gilroy, British Birds 117: 301; L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 727).
16). 2023 Cornwall Rosudgeon, 2CY+, male, 2nd to 11th December, photo, Z. l. leucophrys.
(L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 727).
