Acute restraint stress does not alter corticosteroid receptors or 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase gene expression at hypothalamic–pituitary-adrenal axis regulatory sites in captive male white-crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii)

•Captive songbirds were exposed to a standardized restraint handling stress protocol.•Gene expression was quantified in the hippocampus, hypothalamus, pituitary and liver.•Mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptors and 11BHSD1 & 2 were unaffected by stress.•Hypothalamic Gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone mRNA expression decreased with stress.•Corticosteroid binding globulin mRNA expression increased with stress.