Common Name: White-throated Sparrow
Scientific Name: Zonotrichia albicollis
Order/Family:
Description: They are similar in appearance to the white-crowned sparrow, but with white throat markings and yellow lores. There are two adult plumage variations known as the tan-striped and white-striped forms. On the white-striped form the crown is black with a white central stripe. The supercilium is white as well. The auriculars are gray with the upper edge forming a black eye line. On the tan form, the crown is dark brown with a tan central stripe. The supercilium is tan as well. The auriculars are gray/light brown with the upper edge forming a brown eye line. Both variations feature dark eyes, a white throat, yellow lores and gray bill. They almost always pair with the opposite color morph for breeding. The two color morphs occur in approximately equal numbers. Both male and female white-striped birds are more aggressive than tan-striped birds during the breeding season.
Distribution: White-throated sparrows breed in central Canada and New England. In winter, this species migrates to the southern and eastern United States. They are an unusual sighting, but not rare, in Las Vegas in the winter. For me, always at Corn Creek.
Habitat: These birds forage on the ground under or near thickets or in low vegetation by kicking backward with both feet simultaneously
