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A member of the finch family, the White-Throated Sparrow has a grey, streaked underside. Two colour variations occur in this species, one with black and white head stripes, the other with chocolate and tan. Both have a well-defined white throat patch and dark bill. Females and immature birds are duller.
Common to Algonquin Highlands’ coniferous forests, the White-Throated Sparrow enjoys areas of brushy undergrowth. Here it lays 4 or 5 pale green eggs, heavily spotted in brown, in a nest of grass, rootlets, and moss, on or near the forest floor. It is thought that white-striped males tend to mate with tan-striped females, and tan-striped males with white-striped females. It’s suggested that white-striped birds are more aggressive defenders of their territory, while tan-striped birds are better provides. Mating would then be more successful with both types.
The song of the White-Throated Sparrow is very distinct and well known. One of the sweetest singers, their clear whistles create the song of “Sweet, Canada, Canada, Canada”.
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WHITE-THROATED SPARROW
Zonotrichia albicollis
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