- Zonotrichia albicollis
Identification
There are both tan-striped and white-striped forms.
- White throat
- White supercilium with yellow lores
- Brown above
- Gray/brown below
Similar Species
White-crowned Sparrow, which has a light gray throat, and a very broad white median crown stripe with a black border.
Distribution
Breeds from northwest Canada east to Labrador and Newfoundland and south to Ohio, Pennsylvania and Maryland.
Winters in the eastern USA from the Great Lakes south to Gulf Coast and Florida, and also in small numbers on the Pacific coast.
The most frequently seen Nearctic sparrow in the Western Palearctic, recorded in Iceland and the British Isles, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Spain and Gibraltar. The first for Norway was recorded in July 2002. British records (c.24) most often on Shetland and usually in May-June but also recorded on the English east coast and the Isle of Man.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Habitat
Coniferous forest with dense undergrowth and brushy edges and clearings. On passage and in winter on farmland with hedgerows and thickets, woodland edges, parks and suburban gardens.
Behaviour
Photo by KC Foggin
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA, March 2009
Forages on the ground. Rather a skulking bird, hides in bushes.
Vocalisation
Song: Weak, whistled notes sounding like Old Sam Peabody, Peabody
Call: Very high pitched, short tseeet
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2015. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2015, with updates to August 2015. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
- Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) White-throated Sparrow. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 7 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/White-throated_Sparrow
External Links
