White-throated Sparrow

Overview

The White-throated Sparrow is a striking sparrow known for its crisp white throat patch and small yellow spot in front of each eye. It occurs in two distinct color forms, white-striped and tan-striped, that differ in crown pattern regardless of sex.

A common winter visitor to backyards across much of the United States, its clear whistled song makes it a well-known, if not always seen, feeder-area bird.

Recognizing the Feathers

• Throat feathers: bright, clean white, sharply demarcated from the gray breast
• Crown feathers: either bold black-and-white stripes (white-striped morph) or duller brown-and-tan stripes (tan-striped morph)
• Lore feathers: small bright yellow patch just in front of the eye
• Back feathers: brown, heavily streaked with black

The crisp white throat patch bordered by a dark stripe below it, plus the yellow lore spot, are the most reliable identification clues, separating this species from the similarly patterned White-crowned Sparrow, which lacks both the white throat patch and yellow lores.

Plumage

This species occurs in two morphs: white-striped birds with bold black-and-white crown stripes, and tan-striped birds with duller brown-and-tan crown stripes; both morphs occur in males and females. All birds show a white throat patch, gray breast, and yellow lores. One complete molt occurs after breeding.

Habitat & Range

White-throated Sparrows breed in coniferous and mixed forest edges across Canada and the northeastern United States, and winter widely across the eastern and central United States in woodland edges, thickets, and brushy gardens. They are medium-distance migrants.

Behavior & Field Notes

This species forages on the ground in leaf litter, scratching with both feet at once to uncover seeds and insects, often in small winter flocks. Its clear, whistled song is a distinctive and easily learned sound. A brown-streaked feather paired with a crisp white throat patch feather and a small yellow-tinged lore feather is a strong White-throated Sparrow indicator.