White-throated Sparrow

Zonotrichia albicollis (JF Gmelin, 1789) WHTSP 18400
Family: Passeriformes > Passerellidae

Breeding in Canada and wintering over much of the eastern United States, this one of the most familiar birds in North America. It is a very rare visitor to Britain & Ireland. There are also several records of individuals on trans-Atlantic ships and North Sea oil rigs.

White-throated Sparrow occurs in two colour forms (white and tan crowned); males of both types prefer females with white stripes, but both females prefer tan-striped males, so birds usually mate with the opposite morph.

Select a topic for more facts and statistics about the White-throated Sparrow

  • Breeding
  • Winter
456 records observations recorded by BTO surveyors
456 records

BTO RECORDS

456 records observations recorded by BTO surveyors
456 records

BTO RECORDS

Identification

Develop your bird ID skills with our training courses

Our interactive online courses are a great way to develop your bird identification skills, whether you're new to the hobby or a competent birder looking to hone your abilities.

Browse training courses

Status and Trends

Population size and trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO surveys and atlases with data collected by BTO volunteers.

CONSERVATION STATUS

This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

POPULATION SIZE

We have no population estimates for this scarce species.

DISTRIBUTION

This species is a rare vagrant and was recorded during Bird Atlas 2007–11 as shown on the map.

  • White-throated Sparrow breeding distribution 2008-11
    Britain and Ireland Breeding Distribution 2008-2011.
    More from the Atlas Mapstore.
  • White-throated Sparrow winter distribution 2008-11
    Britain and Ireland Winter Distribution 2008-2011.
    More from the Atlas Mapstore.

Occupied 10-km squares in UK

DISTRIBUTION CHANGE

This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution change.

SEASONALITY

White-throated Sparrow is a very rare vagrant with a scattering of records in winter and spring.

Weekly occurence of White-throated Sparrow from BirdTrack
Weekly occurrence patterns (shaded cells) and reporting rates (vertical bars) based on BirdTrack data. Reporting rates give the likelihood of encountering the species each week.

Movement

Information about movement and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

RINGING RECOVERIES

View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information about White-throated Sparrow, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

PRODUCTIVITY & NESTING

Sample sizes are too small to report Productivity and Nesting statistics for this species.

CODES & CLASSIFICATION

For information in another language (where available) click on a linked name

Welsh: Bras Gyddfwyn
Catalan: sit gorjablanc
Czech: strnadec belohrdlý
Danish: Hvidstrubet Spurv
Dutch: Witkeelgors
Estonian: valgekurk-sidrik
Finnish: valkokurkkusirkku
French: Bruant à gorge blanche
German: Weißkehlammer
Hungarian: fehértorkú verébsármány
Icelandic: Hörputittlingur
Irish: Gealbhan Píbgheal
Italian: Passero golabianca
Latvian: baltrikles zvirbulis
Lithuanian: baltagurkle zonotrichija
Norwegian: Hvitstrupespurv
Polish: pasówka bialogardla
Portuguese: chingolito
Slovak: strnádlik bielohrdlý
Slovenian: belogrli vrabonad
Spanish: Chingolo gorjiblanco
Swedish: vitstrupig sparv

Links to more information from ConservationEvidence.com

Would you like to search for another species?