White-throated Sparrow

The White-throated Sparrow, Zonotrichia albicollis, is a charming member of the New World sparrow family Passerellidae. This bird is easily recognized by its distinctive white throat and the yellow spots between its eyes and bill, known as lores. It is a medium-sized sparrow, measuring 15 to 19 cm in length, with a wingspan of 23 cm, and weighing between 22 to 32 grams. The species exhibits two adult plumage variations: the tan-striped and white-striped forms, both featuring a white throat, yellow lores, and a gray bill.

Identification Tips

To identify the White-throated Sparrow, look for the bold white throat patch and yellow lores. The white-striped form has a black crown with a central white stripe and a white supercilium, while the tan-striped form has a dark brown crown with a tan central stripe and a tan supercilium. Both forms have dark eyes and gray auriculars edged with a darker line. The breast and flanks are streaked with gray or tan, and the belly is light gray. The wings are rufous with two distinct white wing bars. Both sexes are similar in appearance.

Habitat

The White-throated Sparrow breeds in central Canada and New England, preferring deciduous or mixed forest areas. It nests on the ground under shrubs or low in trees.

Distribution

This species breeds in northern North America and winters in the southern United States. It remains year-round in the Atlantic provinces of Canada and is a rare vagrant to western Europe.

Behaviour

The White-throated Sparrow exhibits interesting breeding behaviors, with tan-striped birds focusing on parental care and white-striped birds being more aggressive and seeking additional mating opportunities. In winter, they migrate to the southern and eastern United States, with females migrating farther than males. This species forages on the ground, often under thickets or in low vegetation.

Song & calls

The White-throated Sparrow has a distinctive song, often described with the mnemonic "Poor Sam Peabody, Peabody, Peabody" or "Oh sweet Canada, Canada, Canada." A new song variant has been observed, with the repeating triplets becoming doublets. The species also has at least two calls in addition to its song.

Breeding

Breeding occurs in central Canada and New England, with nests on the ground or low in trees. They lay three to five brown-marked blue or green-white eggs. The tan and white morphs employ different reproductive strategies, with tan morphs focusing on parental care and white morphs on securing additional mates.

Diet and Feeding

The White-throated Sparrow mainly eats seeds, insects, and berries. It forages by kicking backward with both feet simultaneously. It is attracted to bird feeders and enjoys seeds such as millet, black oil sunflower, and various fruits like blackberries, grapes, and rose hips.

Conservation status

The White-throated Sparrow is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, indicating that it is not at immediate risk of population decline or habitat loss.