This sparrow winters in open woodlands, brushy grasslands and shrubby areas. White-throated sparrows are 16-18 cm long and weigh between 22-32 g (Falls, J. White-throated Sparrows frequently visit bird feeders. Breeding adult White-throated Sparrow, white-striped morph, Tompkins Co., NY, April. White Throated Sparrow Nest. A few flockmates, a mixed group that included other white-throated sparrows and some juncos, scratched at the leaf litter below.
After building a nest, they lay one to six tan eggs speckled with brown per clutch, producing up to two broods per year. The white-striped morph is striking., Apr 23, 2006; photographer Gerrit Vyn It's winter! It feeds mainly on the ground and eats seeds in the winter and insects, buds and seeds in the summer.

Female White-throated Sparrows build their well-concealed, open-cup nests from moss, grass, twigs, weeds, and pine needles and line them with fine grass, rootlets, and animal hair.

The white-striped morph is striking., Apr 23, 2006; photographer Gerrit Vyn .

White-throated sparrows are ground foragers meaning they kick and scratch on the ground in the dead leaves looking for seeds and insects. This common species nests in shady, protected areas on or near the ground in coniferous and broad leaf tree forests. The white-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) is a species of passerine bird native to North America.A medium-sized member of the American sparrow family, this species is marked by a grey face and black and white streaking on the upper head. ). They favor edge habitats that may border stands of large coniferous trees. Scientific Name: Zonotrichia albicollis. To dust bathe the House Sparrow hollows out a small divet, lays down with open wings and wiggles around in the dirt. White-throated Sparrow numbers have declined across Canada and the United States according to the Breeding Bird Survey.
White-throated Sparows can have white, tan, or grayish crown stripes. By a quick calculation, about 800 congregated on the wires today--400 pairs, 400 nest cavities stolen from bluebirds, chickadees, titmice, and all the woodpeckers.

House Sparrows Nesting Habits. White-throated sparrows are members of the Emberizine sparrow family, a mostly brown, similar-looking group that can … White-throated Sparrow Migration Bingo! White-throated sparrow egg Female white morph sitting on her nest incubating the eggs. Maryland Birds. White-throated sparrows are ground foragers meaning they kick and scratch on the ground in the dead leaves looking for seeds and insects. She will sit on the nest for most of the day, only leaving to look for food (forage). J.). The nest is made of grass, moss, and feathers. This is thought to help remove parasites. ... and know that all those pairs of invasive birds have robbed our native birds of nest cavities. Length: 6-3/4 inches. White-throated Sparows can have white, tan, or grayish crown stripes. Since these birds use the nest nearly year around. Breeding adult White-throated Sparrow, white-striped morph, Tompkins Co., NY, April. To dust bathe the House Sparrow hollows out a small divet, lays down with open wings and wiggles around in the dirt.

Points indicate annual estimate of relative abundance; higher numbers mean more White-throated Sparrows were counted in that year. Dense lowland and upland thickets are also utilized. It breeds in brushy areas in the taiga and tundra of the northernmost parts of the continent and in the Rocky Mountains and Pacific coast. Mating and Reproduction. The birds will sometimes nest a second time in a breeding season if a ground nest is predated; in that case, they may build a new nest off the ground. Occasional nests are built up to 15 feet off the ground in conifers. They typically nest on or near the ground. Distinctive Markings: White throat, yellow patches in front of eyes and striped heads; some are striped white and black, others tan with dark brown. White-throated sparrows are fairly large (just shy of 7” long, on average), heavy-bodied sparrows, and they show a significant reddish cast to their brown wing and back feathers. The white-throated sparrow is a member of the order Passeriformes, family Emberizidae, and its scientific name is Zonotrichia alicollis (Gmelin, F. B. Most, but not all birds migrate. The White-throated, though, is the smallest – and among the stockiest – of the Zonotrichia species found north of Mexico, usually weighing less than an ounce. The males engage in singing bouts to attract a female and become very territorial during this time, driving other males away.

Habitat: In winter and in migration White-throated Sparrows are found in dense cover, along woodlots, in fencerows, swamps, weedy fields, parks, and in urban areas.