White-throated sparrow

Language English

Onglets

Description

Distinguishing features

This sparrow has a grey breast, a white throat and a yellow spot between its eye and bill. The stripes on its head may be buff and brown or black and white. Its distinctive call sounds like: Oh sweet Canada, Canada, Canada.

Reproduction

The male arrives from the south two weeks before the female. He is very vocal and aggressive. The nest, located near the ground, is hard to spot, because the female is unlikely to leave the eggs she is incubating when an intruder approaches. The female generally lays a single clutch of 4 to 6 eggs.

Diet

These birds eat animal and plant matter. In summer, insects (larvae and adults) make up most of their diet. The hatchlings are probably fed only animal matter.

Predators

Their enemies are red squirrels and blue jays. Brown-headed cowbirds rarely lay their eggs in these birds' nests.

Habitat

They mostly frequent the edges of mixed and coniferous forests. They nest in semi-open, second-growth woodlands. In Québec, they are also found in urban settings, in agricultural areas, thickets, along roadsides, lakes and rivers and in fallow fields.

Ecology, behaviour

Given their preferred habitat, the population of white-throated sparrows has benefited from human settlement. During the nesting period, the parents utter distress calls whenever they sense danger. This attracts other birds and members of their species, which help to chase away and sometimes even attack potential foes.

French name

Bruant à gorge blanche

Scientific name

Zonotrichia albicollis

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Birds

Order

Passeriformes

Family

Passerellidae

Size

Length: 16 to 18 cm

Weight

Average: 25.9 g (19.0 to 35.4)

Life span

Record: 9 years 8 months

Status

Least Concern (IUCN). Common species: one of the most common sparrows in Québec in summer.

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