White-throated Sparrow

Zonotrichia albicollis

Order PASSERIFORMES - Family EMBERIZIDAE

Menu

1. Cool Facts
2. Description
3. Similar Species
4. Sound
5. Range
6. Habitat
7. Food
8. Behavior
9. Reproduction
10. Conservation Status
11. Other Names

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.

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.

Description

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

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

• Middle crown stripe bright white, pale tan, or gray.
• White throat patch outlined with black.
• Breast and lower throat gray, often streaked with brown.
• Flanks light brown and streaked.
• Wings brown with buff edges to feathers and two white wingbars.
• Tail rather long.
• Bill gray or horn colored.
• Eyes brown.
• Legs pale brown.

Sex Differences

Sexes similar in plumage, males slightly larger.

Immature

Similar to tan-crowned adult, with crown stripe gray or light tan, throat dull white, breast gray with brown streaks.

Similar Species

• White-crowned Sparrow lacks distinct white throat, lacks yellow above eyes, and has an all pinkish bill.
• Golden-crowned Sparrow lacks white throat and has yellow in crown.

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."

»listen to songs of this species

Range

Summer Range

Breeds from southeastern Yukon across Canada to Newfoundland, and southward to the northeastern United States.

Winter Range

Winters along the Pacific Coast from Washington to Mexico, along the southern states in the Southwest, and all across the midwestern and eastern United States.

Habitat

• Breeds in coniferous and mixed forests with numerous openings and low, dense vegetation.
• In winter and in migration found in dense cover, along woodlots, in fence rows, swamps, weedy fields, parks, and in urban areas.

Food

Seeds, fruits, and insects.

Behavior

Foraging

Feeds primarily on ground. Scratches in litter with both feet. Some hawking of insects from perch.

Reproduction

Nest Type

Nest an open cup of grass, wood chips, twigs, pine needles, or roots. Lined with fine grasses, rootlets, deer hair, or pine needles. Placed on or just above ground along the edge of a clearing.

Egg Description

Pale blue with dark markings, often concentrated around the large end.

Clutch Size

1-6 eggs.

Condition at Hatching

Helpless with patches of brown down on head and back.

Conservation Status

Abundant, but apparently declining over much of breeding range.

Other Names

Bruant à gorge blanche (French)

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.