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Thursday, March 10, 2022

White-throated Sparrows, Post # 1,000

White-throated Sparrows breed in the northernmost reaches of North America and spend winter in the eastern half of the US and along the west coast. Connecticut is just south of their nesting range, but they are now common visitors to our feeders. 

When I started keeping a bird list in the 1940s, I noticed that the crown stripes of this species varied from bright white to dull brownish. It was generally believed that those with tan crown stripes were immature birds, which then developed white crowns as adults. All my field guides reinforced this view into the 1950s. 

It was not until 1961 that it was established that these were the life-long head patterns of two different color morphs of this species. The population of White-throated Sparrows is divided into two plumage types (morphs) with white-striped or tan-striped heads of both males and females. Interestingly, the males almost always mate with females of the opposite morph. Both sexes of each morph share different behavior patterns,  

Only the male tan-striped (TS) morphs sing, but white-striped (WS) birds of both sexes sing. However, WS males sing more and are "more aggressive and more likely to engage in extra-pair copulation than their TS counterparts. TS birds of both sexes provide more parental care than WS birds." (REF: Birds of the World)

I photographed this white-striped bird in 2010 in Illinois. Note the bright yellow spot above and in front of its eye:

More examples of white-striped individuals:





The differences in crown color are most striking during breeding season. During the winter, both morphs may look rather similar, as their crown stipes fade and may look grayish. The chest of tan-striped morphs tends to be more prominently streaked, while those of white-striped usually have a more uniform gray chest.  These are probably tan-striped individuals:


The above individual turned its head, better revealing the contrast between the bright white throat and the tan crown stripe. It also has a central breast spot, a  less common feature{


This tan-striped individual has a densely streaked breast:

Another, more heavily streaked sparrow is often present at the feeders. The Song Sparrow has a characteristic central breast spot. When viewed head-on, it exhibits a small white throat patch, centered between two black "whiskers:"

Song Sparrow fluffed up against the cold:


The most common feeder bird here in our new home in Connecticut is an unstreaked sparrow. The Dark-eyed Junco does not appear in southern Florida. Indeed, it retreats to breed in more northern and high mountainous areas to the north. 

A (Slate-colored) Dark-eyed Junco shares sunflower seeds with a White-throated Sparrow:


Luckily I had prepared the above segment before I lost the use of my desktop computer for almost a week. 

We witnessed a splendid sunset on March 8:


The next evening the weather took a turn and snow began falling. Before sunrise, snow blanketed the rhododendrons:


View of bird feeder this morning from the front door of our suite:


The rising sun reflected on the treetops:




Tufted Titmouse:


I just realized that this is my 1,000th blog post. I started back in 2006. The first bird photo I posted was in September 20, 2006, a poor digiscopic image of a Northern Wheatear, far out of range in Everglades National Park., Chasing the White Arse Bird

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Linking to:

Garden Affair


Skywatch Friday

Weekend Reflections

Saturday's Critters

BirdD'Pot

All Seasons

Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday)

Natasha Musing

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Please visit the links to all these posts to see some excellent photos on display
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20 comments:

  1. Congratulations on the 1000th post. As usual, lovely photos. My Merlin birdsong ID app keeps telling me that I have white-throated sparrows, but I've never actually seen one. You've inspired me to keep looking--and maybe take the binocs out to the back yard.

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  2. The snow photos are beautiful. Congratulations on blog post #1000!!!

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  3. Wow, you started a bird list in the 1940's!! That's amazing, kudos to you. I love that you know all the details of the various birds.

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  4. Yay, glad to know there are also sparrows that are not brown all over. Congratulations with your 1000th post. I didn't start till 2008-9:)> Now Ken, you could not have these beautiful snow captures in FL! Stay warm this weekend:)

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  5. How wonderful are these images. They inspire me to go out and take more photos.

    Worth a Thousand Words

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  6. Grandiose Fotos !
    Glückwunsch zum 1000 Beitrag ♥

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  7. Congrats on blog post 1000! Your snow pictures are beautiful and I love the sparrows. l

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  8. Congratulations on 1000!
    These are really interesting, the series of sparrows.

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  9. Congrats on your 1000th post. Some stunning winter photos here. My husband (and me, to a lessor extent) are newly minted birders and I forwarded the link to this blog post to him.

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  10. Hello Ken,
    Congrats on 1,000 blog posts. Wonderful collection of Sparrow photos. I also love the Junco and the Titmouse. The sunset is beautiful, love the snow scenes. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, enjoy your weekend.

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  11. My first encounter with the White-throated Sparrow was in the early 1970's. We were living in Maryland and I still had good hearing so I was able to enjoy that "Oh, Sweet Canada, Canada" song.

    Here in central Florida we only see them occasionally during migration.

    We're busy sending all your birds back north, Ken. Take care!

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  12. All amazing captures, critters and snowy views, nature is so lovely.

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  13. Great captures and a fascinating post. Congratulations on your 1000th post too.

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  14. You've learned so much and helped so many of us with IDs and a chance to see birds we don't normally see. It's been a snowy week for many but I know you'll be feeding the birds and seeing some interesting birds come to your feeders. Stay warm this weekend! Diane

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  15. Your snow scenes are spectacular! Most of the white-throated sparrows I've seen had the yellow stripe.

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  16. Wow!
    Makes me wonder how many different bird species you've seen over the years. Have you seen all them that are native to North America?

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    1. James, there are approximately 1000 bird species in the American Birding Association area of North America (USA and Canada), of which I have seen 613 . Many much mor experienced and ambitious "bird chasers" have recorded over 900. While living in Florida (2004-2021) I created 1,520 checklists of species seen in my local wetland birding "patch," the West Miramar Water Conservation Area and recorded 185 species of the total 188 ever recorded at that location, photographing nearly all of my sightings on site.

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  17. Adorable sparrows , your snow filled wonderland is amazing. Thanks for sharing with Garden Affair.

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  18. You got some great close ups there! thanks for joining in #Allseasons

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