Bird
White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollisAlso known as Peabody Bird, Canada Sparrow
White-throated sparrows occur in two distinct color morphs, white-striped and tan-striped, which mate almost exclusively with the opposite morph. Their distinctive whistle echoes through northern boreal forests and wintering thickets with a clear, rhythmic pattern. During winter, small flocks vigorously scratch through leaf litter using a characteristic double-scratch hopping movement to uncover hidden seeds and insects.
MigratorySongbirdPolymorphic
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyWeed seeds, Insects, Berries
Predators
- Domestic cats
- Sharp-shinned hawks
- Eastern chipmunks
ThreatsHabitat loss, window collisions, and domestic cat predation
HabitatsBoreal forests, brushy thickets, hedgerows, and suburban gardens
Life span5–9 years
Classification
- OrderPasseriformes
- FamilyPasserellidae
- GenusZonotrichia
- SpeciesZonotrichia albicollis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Feeder placement: Scatter millet or sunflower seeds on low platform feeders or ground areas near brush.
- Listening for song: Listen for its crisp, whistling song during early spring mornings.
- Providing cover: Maintain dense brush piles or native shrubs to offer winter roosting spots.
Frequent Companion (c) Becky Matsubara, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Predator "Sharp-Shinned Hawk (juvenile)" by Becky Matsubara is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Mike Baird, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Kevin Krebs, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) James M. Maley, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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Backyard Birds
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