White-throated Sparrow

birds · North America · sparrows · migration

Distinctive song. The white-throated sparrow has a clear, whistling song that sounds like "Oh, sweet Canada, Canada, Canada" to many people's ears. This makes it one of the easiest sparrows to identify by sound.

Two color types. Some white-throated sparrows have bold white and black stripes on their head, while others have tan and buff stripes instead. Both types are the same species and live together.

Big travelers. These sparrows breed across northern Canada and parts of northern U.S. states, then fly thousands of miles south to spend winter in warmer areas like the southern United States and Mexico.

Ground foragers. White-throated sparrows hop along the ground searching for seeds and insects to eat. They love brushy areas, field edges, and woodland clearings where they can find plenty of food.

Bright white patch. The white throat patch that gives this bird its name is one of its best field marks, making it stand out from other sparrow species in its range.