White-throated Sparrow

Zonotrichia albicollis

Least Concern · IUCN Red List

LCLeast ConcernSeedsWoodlandCup nestSmall · 24 g

What the White-throated Sparrow sounds like

Sonogram of the White-throated Sparrow: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.
Recorded by Doug Hynes · Song · Broughton, Nova Scotia, Canada · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto
Sonogram of the White-throated Sparrow: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.
Recorded by Doug Hynes · Song · Pouch Cove Line, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto
Sonogram of the White-throated Sparrow: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.
Recorded by Jonathon Jongsma · Call · Powderhorn Park, Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota, United States · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto

ID tip

The white-throated sparrow is a passerine bird of the New World sparrow family Passerellidae. It measures 15 to 19 cm (5.9 to 7.5 in) in length with a wingspan of 23 cm (9.1 in). Typical weight is 22 to 32 g (0.78 to 1.13 oz), with an average of 26 g (0.92 oz). Among standard measurements, the wing chord is 6.3 to 7.9 cm (2.5 to 3.1 in), the tail is 6.8 to 7.7 cm (2.7 to 3.0 in), the bill is 1 to 1.2 cm (0.39 to 0.47 in) and the tarsus is 2.2 to 2.4 cm (0.87 to 0.94 in). They are similar in appearance to the white-crowned sparrow, but with white throat markings and yellow lores. Voice: White-throated sparrows produce song laterally through the left side of their syrinx, and control of their syrinx involves both their central and peripheral nervous systems. After damage to motor control of the left side of the syrinx, individuals were still able to produce sound but their song pattern was distorted, indicating the left side chiefly controls their production of song.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the White-throated Sparrow

One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 9 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is April, the month with the most records.

Where to see the White-throated Sparrow

Regular rangeRare visitor

The map shades 7 countries with regular records, and 10 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.

Recorded as a rare visitor in Spain, France, Norway, Belgium, Portugal, Sweden, Iceland, Netherlands, Bahamas, Ireland.

About the White-throated Sparrow

The white-throated sparrow is a passerine bird of the New World sparrow family Passerellidae. It breeds in northern North America and winters in the southern United States.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Easily confused with

Side by side: White-crowned Sparrow vs White-throated Sparrow · Golden-crowned Sparrow vs White-throated Sparrow · Rufous-collared Sparrow vs White-throated Sparrow

Learn the White-throated Sparrow in the BeakBrain App

Photo and call practice. Coming soon to iPhone and Android.

Play today's Daily Bird

Every photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.