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ODNR Division of Wildlife - Fishing - Trout Stockings
ODNR Division of Wildlife - A to Z Species Guide - White-throated Sparrow

 White-throated Sparrow

white-throated sparrow

Sparrows are small brownish birds that may seem impossible to distinguish to a beginning bird watcher. Although, by observing head and breast patterns, habitats, and season of occurrence, sparrow identification is relatively easy. They are ground-feeding seed eaters. Sexes are basically the same.

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White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis

At-a-Glance

• Peak Breeding Activity: spring

• Incubation: 11-14 days

• Clutch Size: 3-5 eggs

• Young Fledge: 7-12 days after hatching

• Typical Foods: seeds, insects, and fruit
Description
These birds have black-and-white stripes on the crown, a large patch of white on the throat, and a yellow spot above each eye. They appear brownish rather than gray, and slumped down rather than tall, when compared with the rarer white-crowned sparrow.

Habitat and Habits
In Ohio the white-throated sparrow is considered a common migrant, and in some years, a fairly common winter visitor. Easily attracted to bird feeders, this species lives in woods and gardens with dense underbrush. The song is well known in the northern woods of Canada and New England, but these birds also freely sing as they migrate through Ohio. The song is a paraphrased poor Sam Peabody, Peabody, Peabody.

Reproduction and Care of the Young
In northern Canada, where the white-throated sparrow breeds, the nest is a bulky cup of twigs, lined with grass and placed on or near the ground. The three to five eggs are pale green, thickly spotted with brown.