When we catch adult white-crowned sparrows they get some extra jewelry. In addition to a metal band with a unique ID number, they get a unique combination of color bands so that we can identify individuals from a distance using binoculars.

[Photo and caption by Carly Hawkins]

Carly studies how bird songs influence mating strategies in white-crowned sparrows. She is interested in how traffic noise can impede the ability to assess bird songs and subsequently affects reproductive success. To learn more about Carly’s field work, check out her Field Notes article!