BIRDS THAT COME BY: How to identify white-throated sparrows

There are over 20 species of sparrows in Ontario. Some come and go in certain areas; some are year round. There are also subspecies of these sparrows.

In the past week or so I’ve had a few unusual or intermittent visitors in the house. Yes, that includes the ubiquitous house sparrows. It also includes Song Sparrows, a Chipping Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrows and a White-throated Sparrow. Dark-eyed Juncos are back for the winter, too. You are some kind of sparrow.

Oddly enough, the white-throated sparrow and dark-eyed juncos sometimes mate and form a hybrid. All About Birds says, “The resulting offspring look like greyish, dull marked white-throated sparrows with white outer tail feathers.”

This contributes to the confusing identification of sparrows. Although the plumage of male and female White-throated Sparrows is similar, these sparrows have either white or brown head stripes. The difference isn’t just physical.

Scientists have observed differences in the behavior of the two morphs. Birds Of The World says, “White-striped (WS) males sing more, are more aggressive, and are more likely to mate with other pairs than their tan-striped (TS) counterparts. TS birds of either sex provide more parental care than WS birds.”

They also discovered that white-throated sparrows always breed with the opposite color morph, with either tan-striped or white-striped heads.

Sometimes it is difficult to spot irregular visitors among the almost always present house sparrows. It can be easy to dismiss a gathering of brown birds. The white-throated sparrow turned away from me as it sat next to a house sparrow. This is only the second time I’ve seen a white-throated sparrow here.

I was initially able to distinguish the White-throated Sparrow from another recent visitor, the White-headed Sparrow by its size. He seemed stockier than the White-crowned Sparrow. As it turned its head I could see the yellow patch between its beak and eye and the white patch on its throat. The White-crowned Sparrow does not have either.

Switching from White-throated to White-headed Sparrow as I write this will require some concentration and perhaps patience on the part of the reader. I apologize for that. I don’t see any other way to present the information either.

White-throated sparrows usually hang out in flocks at this time of year. He seemed to be on his own.

These sparrows are common in Canada, the Northeastern United States, and the northern Midwest. They breed nearby or on the ground. “These nests can be in the roots of an upturned tree, in clumps of bushes, in shrubs or ferns, or as high as 10 feet in a conifer.”

White-crowned sparrows sing a song written as “Oh-sweet-Canada-Canada”.

“During migration and in winter, white-throated sparrows can be found on woodland edges, hedges, thickets, weed fields, suburbs, backyards and city parks,” says All About Birds.

It is a short distant migrant with overlapping breeding and wintering ranges. According to Birds Of The World, “Spring migratory birds arrive when snowmelt exposes parts of the forest floor; latest autumn departures are before the first permanent snowfall. In winter, individuals seek out areas with minimal snow cover (e.g., in the US), which facilitates ground-searching.”

I’m assuming that my visiting white-throated sparrow will be migrating a little further south shortly. I wish him all the best on his journey.

I share bird visitor experiences of this property with readers every few weeks. Until next time, keep an eye on the sky and look out for any birds that may be passing by.

Rosaleen Egan is a freelance journalist, storyteller and playwright. She blogs on her website rosiewrites.com.