What major geographic feature guides the migration path of Eastern White-crowned Sparrow breeders?
Answer
The Mississippi River Valley and the central/eastern US.
Migratory movements are not uniform across the species; they follow established continental corridors influenced by geography. For those populations originating in eastern breeding grounds, their southward migration tends to funnel them along established paths that naturally lead them through the Mississippi River Valley and the central and eastern regions of the United States en route to their wintering areas. This contrasts significantly with western populations, which often maintain closer proximity to mountain ranges or utilize Pacific coast flyways.

Related Questions
What defines the primary habitat sought by White-crowned Sparrows for nesting?Which subspecies is known for being the most widespread migrant traveling the furthest south?How do White-crowned Sparrows primarily move debris when foraging on the ground?What is the usual structural height for a White-crowned Sparrow's cup-shaped nest?What major geographic feature guides the migration path of Eastern White-crowned Sparrow breeders?In which locations might a birder observe White-crowned Sparrows as year-round residents?What time frame marks the peak return migration northbound for White-crowned Sparrows?What feeding material is recommended for attracting White-crowned Sparrows using ground scatterings?Which species are White-crowned Sparrows frequently observed associating with in mixed-species winter flocks?What distinguishing field characteristic separates the *gambelii* subspecies from coastal groups like *pugetensis*?