white-throated sparrow

Male White-throated sparrow

White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)

For more pictures, go to https://ebird.org/checklist/S81157333

For more pictures, go to https://ebird.org/checklist/S81157333

This is an uncommon winter visitor and migrant in California. The species is famous for negative assortative mating between the two color morphs. White-striped morphs prefer to mate with tan-striped morphs and vice versa. However, this species does not cleanly separate into tan and white striped...

White-Throated Sparrow

I had no idea that the White-throated Sparrow is now listed as the passerine bird of the New World sparrow family Passerellidae. With so many years of birding there is still so much learning to be done.

I think this is about its best plumage.

With temps in the low teens last night I was glad I put the Christmas tree out for them to give them some shelter. This guy climbed out of it this a.m. and hopped on the Muscadine vine.

I think this is just about full frame. If you sit down quietly near the feeders or where you toss about some seed, a lot of these sparrows get use to you.

Sexes look the same on this little beauty. The only other sparrow you might mistake this for would be the White-crowned Sparrow, but only at fast glance.

Could have been a bit more in focus but I usually just find one a year so I'll be happy with this one.

Turns out I did get one shot where this White-throated was facing the sun. Unfortunately, that meant he wasn't facing me :S

I've lightened up the face on this one. Straight of the camera you couldn't see any details in his face except the tips of those bushy yellow "eyebrows". I kept the image for that reason alone, but didn't post it until I'd had time to try lightening up the shadows a bit. That does...

Another one of my lifers. I really should edit the RAW file of this one. I think I could probably rescue some detail from out of the sharp shadows on his face. I just haven't had the time to do any editing yet. Preferably, of course, I should have waited for him to turn and face the light, but I...

Though I have never heard this bird sing, it breeds north of me, it's been said that it has one of the sweetest songs.