The Way of the White-Throated Sparrow

White-throated sparrow (white-crowned) puffed up against the cold

Appearance
White-throated sparrows are beautiful birds commonly found in North Carolina during the winter season. They have a brown upper body and gray underbody, with a striking head pattern featuring a black-and-white crown. Unlike most songbirds, these plump birds come in two color morphs. These two variations are known as "white-crowned" and "tan-crowned.”

Migration
Nothing signals cooler weather in North Carolina like seeing these birds. White-throated sparrows migrate to the southern and eastern U.S. for the winter. Their arrival in North Carolina can be seen as early as autumn, and they remain throughout the winter months. By April, these beautiful birds begin to head back north.

Nesting
After their long migration, white-throated sparrows nest in areas like suburban yards and leafy habitats, as they prefer to live in dense foliage. Most of the time, they nest on or near the ground. If a nest is found off the ground, it is usually no higher than 15 feet and is often a response to a previous ground nest being attacked by a predator. During the winter, these birds are often seen in small flocks foraging on the ground. Lone females typically build open, cup-shaped nests. White-throated sparrows use a variety of materials for their nests, including grasses, twigs, wood chips, and even deer fur.

Diet
White-throated sparrows are omnivorous. They forage on or near the ground, scratching through leaf litter to find seeds, berries, and insects. During the breeding season, their diet consists mainly of insects like ants, beetles, and caterpillars. In the winter, they primarily eat seeds from weeds and grasses, as well as some berries, only eating insects when available.

White vs. Tan
As mentioned, these birds come in two color morphs: white-crowned and tan-crowned. Interestingly, these color variations also influence their behavior. White-crowned males and females are more likely to sing than their tan counterparts. White-crowned males are generally more aggressive than tan-crowned males. While tan-crowned adults may not sing as often, they are known to feed their young more than the white-crowned adults.

Eggs
White-throated sparrows typically lay 4 to 5 eggs. Their eggs are pale or greenish-blue, marked with reddish-brown and lavender spots. The female alone incubates the eggs, which takes about 11 to 14 days.

Song
The white-throated sparrow is known for its distinctive, thin whistle, which has been described as sounding like "old Sam Peabody, Peabody." The important characteristic of their song is that it consists of two whistles, followed by a repeated three-syllable phrase. Both white-striped males and females sing frequently, but it is very rare for tan-striped females to sing. Click here to hear the beautiful song of the white-throated sparrow.