White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)

White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis

TAXONOMY:

Order: Passeriformes
Family: Emberizidae
Genus: Zonotrichia
species: albicollis

MORPHOLOGY:

Males: The crown is dark with a buff or white central stripe. Yellow mark at the front of the eyebrow. The throat is white and the breast is gray with faint streaking. There are two morphs based on the color of the eyebrow, a tan and white morph. Underside below breast is white.
Females: The yellow at front of eyebrow is duller and the pattern is not as bold on the head. The throat is more gray on the breast as compared to the male and more streaking.
Immatures: Like the female, except tail feathers are tapered.

FOOD: Fruits, insects, seeds, and grains.

MATING SYSTEM: monogamous, with one member from each morph represented in the pair (male tan morph with female white morph, or male white morph with female tan morph).

BREEDING SYSTEM:

Where Breeds: On the forest edge, in partly open areas, clearings with scrub, shrubby growth on abog edge, and in open woodland on mountain slopes (Baicicich and Harrison, 1997).
Nest: The nest is found on the ground at the edge of a clearing, usually undr low shrubs, tree branches, grass tufts, weed clumps, or ferns (Baicicich and Harrison, 1997). The nest is a cup made out of coarse grasses, wood chips, twigs, pine needles, and rootlets (Baicicich and Harrison, 1997). The nest is lined with fine grasses, rootlets, and hair (Baicicich and Harrison, 1997). The nest is built by the female over 4 to 6 days (Baicicich and Harrison, 1997).
Breeding Season: The breeding season begins from mid to late May and ends in late July (Baicicich and Harrison, 1997). This species is single-brooded, with lost clutches being replaced (Baicicich and Harrison, 1997).
Eggs: There are between 4 to 6 eggs laid in a clutch (Baicicich and Harrison, 1997). The eggs are subelliptical to long subelliptical in shape and very pale blue or greenish-blue in background color (Baicicich and Harrison, 1997). The eggs are speckled purplish-red, chestnut-red, or pale lilac, and this is sometimes concentrated at the larger end (Baicicich and Harrison, 1997). The average size of an egg is 21 X 15 mm (Baicicich and Harrison, 1997).
Incubation: The incubation period is 11 to 14 days and is done by the female (Baicicich and Harrison, 1997).
Nestling: The young are born altricial and almost naked, with the down being brown in color (Baicicich and Harrison, 1997). The young fledge from the nest after 7 to 12 days, and are tended by both parents and brooded by the females (Baicicich and Harrison, 1997). The eyes open 3 to 4 days after hatching (Baicicich and Harrison, 1997).

MIGRATION STATUS IN WISCONSIN:
The white-throated sparrow is a short-distance migrant.

NESTS FOUND AT LAND O’ LAKES:
There was one nest found at the study site, but it was predated upon.

REFERENCES:
Baicicich, P.J. and Harrison, C.J.O. 1997. A Guide to the Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings of North American Birds, 2nd edition. Academic Press: San Diego.

Stokes, D.W. and Stokes, L.Q. 1996. Field Guide to Birds: Eastern Region. Little, Brown and Co.: Boston.

Last Updated: March 27, 2005

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