White-throated Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Adult white-striped
- White throat and head stripes
- Yellow lores
- Gray face and breast
- Streaked nape
- © William Jobes, PA, Bucks Co, January 2009
White-throated Sparrow
Adult white-striped
- White throat and head stripes
- Yellow lores (between bill and eye)
- Gray face and unstreaked breast
- Streaked brown back, wings, and tail
- Gray bill
- © Byard Miller, NH, Pittsburg, June 2008
White-throated Sparrow
Adult tan-striped
- Often-seen alternate form has tan head stripes
- Still has white throat and yellow lores
- Often shows indistinct dark spot on breast
- © Jim Paris, October 2008
White-throated Sparrow
Adult
- White throat, white or tan head stripes
- Yellow lores (between bill and eye)
- Gray breast, often with dull darker mottling
- Streaked nape, gray bill
- © wreckingball34, NJ, Morris Co, January 2007
White-throated Sparrow
Adult tan-striped
- Often-seen alternate form has tan head stripes
- Still has white throat patch and yellow lores
- Streaked brown back, wings, and tail
- Gray breast, often with dull darker mottling
- © Jim Paris, October 2008
White-throated Sparrow
Adult tan-striped
- White throat
- Tan head stripes
- Yellow lores
- Gray breast, often with dull darker mottling
- Gray bill
- © Debbie McKenzie, September 2008
White-throated Sparrow
Adult white-striped
- White throat and head stripes
- Yellow lores
- Streaked brown back, wings, and tail
- Gray breast, often with dull darker mottling
- Brown sides and flanks
- © wreckingball34, NJ, January 2007
White-throated Sparrow
Adult tan-striped
- White throat
- Tan head stripes
- Yellow lores
- Streaked brown back, rufous wings, white spotted wingbars
- Brown sides and flanks with very faint streaking
- © Marshall Faintich, VA, Nellysford, February 2008
Similar Species
Adult
- Similar to adult White-throated Sparrow
- No yellow lores and no white throat patch
- Orange or pink bill
- Clear gray cheek, nape, and breast; browner flanks
- Bold black and white head stripes with wide white middle stripe
- © Linda Williams, Liberty, MO, February 2008
Juveniles
- Similar to immature or tan-striped adult White-throated Sparrow
- Clear gray nape and breast; browner flanks
- Orange or pink bill
- No yellow lores or white throat patch
- © Darin Ziegler, Colorado Springs, CO, October 2008
Adult eastern form
- Somewhat similar to immature or tan-striped adult White-throated Sparrow
- Much more heavily streaked on underparts
- Grayish eyebrow, no yellow lores
- © Ed Schneider, White Creek, TN, October 2008
Juvenile
- Similar to immature or tan-striped adult White-throated Sparrow
- Occurs only along Pacific Coast
- Yellowish crown, very faint eyestripe, gray throat
- Head not nearly as strongly marked as White-throated Sparrow
- Clear gray breast (not striped or mottled)
- © katnor1, San Francisco, CA, February 2009