Photo: Cephas / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of North America.
Found across 19 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) is a member of the Passerellidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 24.4 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Passerellidae New World Sparrows
- Genus Zonotrichia
- Species albicollis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 24.4 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Passerellidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Male vs female
Sexes look alike; plumage differences instead come from two permanent, non-sex-linked color morphs, a bolder white-striped and a duller tan-striped head form, so a male and female can each be either morph.
Juvenile appearance
Duller and streakier below, with the bold head-stripe pattern only faintly developed.
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-throated Sparrow is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The White-throated Sparrow is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) is a species of bird in the Passerellidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It is found across North America. Its distribution covers NA nw, w Canada and ne, nc USA.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 24.4 g, with a wing length of about 7.3 cm and a tail of around 7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 5.7 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-throated Sparrow?
The White-throated Sparrow is a small bird that weighs around 24.4 g.
Where does the White-throated Sparrow live?
The White-throated Sparrow is found across North America with a range covering NA nw, w Canada and ne, nc USA, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the White-throated Sparrow belong to?
The White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) belongs to the Passerellidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the White-throated Sparrow eat?
The White-throated Sparrow is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the White-throated Sparrow migrate?
The White-throated Sparrow is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the White-throated Sparrow endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the White-throated Sparrow make?
1 real field recording of the White-throated Sparrow — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the White-throated Sparrow's range?
The White-throated Sparrow has a mapped global range of about 5.7 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.
How to Attract White-throated Sparrow to Your Yard
The honest, data-backed way to attract White-throated Sparrow to your yard — the feeders and food they actually use (white proso millet), nesting help, and habitat that brings them in.