Handsome Sparrow

The bird being featured today is the White-throated Sparrow, a passerine, larger that other sparrows and well defined features as well as attractive colors.

White-throated Sparrows are brown above and gray below with a striking head pattern. The black-and-white-striped head is augmented by a bright white throat and yellow between the eye and the bill, which is gray. You’ll also see a less boldly marked form, known as “tan-striped,” with a buff-on-brown face pattern instead of white-on-black. (I haven’t photographed any “tan-striped” yet)

White-throated Sparrow breeding grounds are in Canada, then migrate south to USA during winter, they have a very extended territory.

They eat plants and seeds and live in bushes, overgrown fields and also backyards. These birds have been visiting my backyard for several years.

13 thoughts on “Handsome Sparrow”

Jet Eliot on April 1, 2015 at 9:41 am said:

Great photos, HJ — I especially like the one where he is facing you head-on. 🙂

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- avian101 on April 1, 2015 at 10:30 am said:
  
  Thanks Jet! He’s just facing me but not looking at me! He’s fine! 🙂
  
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susanpoozan on April 1, 2015 at 10:07 am said:

I agree with the previous commentator entirely.

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- avian101 on April 1, 2015 at 10:32 am said:
  
  Thanks Susan! 🙂
  
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kathydoremus on April 1, 2015 at 10:36 am said:

I love these little birds. You are right, there markings are striking.

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- avian101 on April 1, 2015 at 10:56 am said:
  
  Thanks Kathy! Handsome sparrows! 🙂
  
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aussiebirder on April 1, 2015 at 7:10 pm said:

They certainly are more lovely looking than our House Sparrow!

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- avian101 on April 1, 2015 at 7:25 pm said:
  
  Thank you for sharing! 🙂
  
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Birder's Journey on April 1, 2015 at 8:49 pm said:

Love that pattern on his head. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen such a colorful sparrow 🙂

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- avian101 on April 1, 2015 at 11:03 pm said:
  
  Thank you Carol! 🙂
  
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45DegreesNorth on April 6, 2015 at 8:34 am said:

One of the pretties sparrows, in my humble opinion. 🙂 Love how you got a tree full of them!

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- 45DegreesNorth on April 6, 2015 at 8:34 am said:
  
  *prettiest* – I need an edit button. 🙂
  
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  - avian101 on April 6, 2015 at 10:15 am said:
    
    Thank you Amy! 🙂