White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys
Flight call description A rising "sveeht" with a slightly piercing quality.
Fig.1. Maryland May 3, 1993 (MO).
Perched bird.
Similar species Very similar to Vesper Sparrow but typically smoother at the beginning and not as husky. More evenly rising and less upward-arched than Fox Sparrow. Longer and higher than Prothonotary Warbler. See short rising seeps.
Behavior Nocturnal migrant. Gives flight call regularly while perched and in short flights during the day and during nocturnal migration.
Spectrographic description Measured calls (N=6) were 69.8-94.9 (78.6) mS in duration and in the 6.2-9.6 (6.8-8.6) kHz frequency range. The frequency track was double-banded (upper band often faint or incomplete) and gently rising with a steeper rise toward the end. One call showed very fine modulations with a spacing between humps of 2.1 mS.