Habitat
In Alaska, inhabits narrow band of conifers and deciduous shrubs near treeline in the mountains (Manuwal 1978, Kessel 1989, Petersen et al. 1991). Also occurs above treeline in similarly structured habitat (Swarth 1934, Murie 1959, Bailey 1974) and in shrubby arctic and alpine habitat in western Alaska (Kessel 1989, Petersen et al. 1991). Willow, short conifers, and water are common habitat characteristics (Norment et al. 1998). At northern limit, found in riparian willow and tundra willow thickets near water (Manuwal 1978).
References
Bailey, E. P. 1974. Passerine diversity, relative abundance, and migration at Cold Bay, Alaska. Bird- Banding 45: 145-151.
Kessel, B. 1989. Birds of the Seward Peninsula, Alaska: their biogeography, seasonality, and natural history. Univ. of Alaska Press, Fairbanks, AK. 330 pp.
Manuwal, D. A. 1978. Avian diversity and habitat selection in the Noatak Valley, Brooks Range, Alaska. Murrelet 59:42-58.
Murie, O. J. 1959. Fauna of the Aleutian Islands and Alaska Peninsula. USDI, USFWS Rep. no. 61. Washington, D. C. N. Amer. Fauna 61: 1-364.
Norment, C. J., P. Hendricks, and R. Santonocito. 1998. Golden-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla). In The Birds of North America, Vol. 7, No. 352 (A. Poole and F. Gill, Eds.). Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences; Washington, D.C.: The American Ornithologists’ Union.
Petersen, M. R., D. N. Weir, and M. H. Dick. 1991. Birds of the Kilbuck and Ahklun Mountain Region, Alaska. North American Fauna 76. 158 pp.

Swarth, H. S. 1934. Birds of Nunivak Island, Alaska. Pac. Coast Avifauna 22.
