White-throated Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow, white-striped form

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White-throated Sparrow, tan striped form

White-throated Sparrow, 1st winter plumage

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1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Cool Facts
6. Full detailed species account

The White-throated Sparrow sings its breeding song of "Oh Sweet Canada Canada Canada" across the most of that country. Although its breeding range barely extends outside of Canada, it is common in fields and hedgerows throughout the eastern United States in winter. It is found in urban areas more frequently than most sparrows.

Description

• Large sparrow, small songbird.
• Throat white.
• White and black stripes on head.
• Yellow in front of eyes.
• Gray chest.
• Back striped brown and black.

• Size: 16-18 cm (6-7 in)
• Wingspan: 20-23 cm (8-9 in)
• Weight: 22-32 g (0.78-1.13 ounces)

Sex Differences

Sexes similar in plumage, males slightly larger.

Sound

Song a slow series of usually five clear whistles that changes pitch once, on either the second or third note, often described as "Old Sam Peabody" or "Oh Sweet Canada." Call note a distinctive "tseep."

Conservation Status

Abundant, but apparently declining over much of breeding range.

Other Names

Bruant à gorge blanche (French)

Cool Facts

• The White-throated Sparrow comes in two color forms: white-crowned and tan-crowned. Tan-crowned birds have dull whitish or light tan head stripes, and more brownish chests that usually contain some streaking. In the spring when the sparrow is most brightly colored, most individuals are easily assigned to a color morph. In fall, the morphs are more similar and many birds appear intermediate between the two.

• The two color forms of the White-throated Sparrow are determined by genetic differences, and are unique among birds. Oddly, individuals almost always mate with a bird of the opposite morph. Males of both color types prefer females with white stripes, but both kinds of females prefer tan-striped males. White-striped birds are more aggressive than tan-striped ones, and white-striped females may be able to outcompete their tan-striped sisters for tan-striped males.

• Although they look nothing alike, the White-throated Sparrow and the Dark-eyed Junco occasionally mate and produce hybrids. The resulting offspring look like grayish, dully marked White-throated Sparrows with white outer tail feathers.

Sources used to construct this page:

Falls, J. B., and J. G. Kopachena. 1994. White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis). In The Birds of North America, No. 128 (A. Poole, and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.