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Black-throated Sparrow Identification

Black-throated Sparrow Adult
Adult

Medium-sized sparrow with a striking face pattern: a white stripe above and below the eye and a black throat.

© Luke Seitz | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, March 19, 2013
Black-throated Sparrow Juvenile
Juvenile

Juveniles lack the black throat and are browner overall. Note pale eyebrow stripe.

© Dorian Anderson | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, September 25, 2016
Black-throated Sparrow Adult
Adult

Plump, barrel-chested sparrow with a thick bill and striking head pattern. Call is a thin chip; song is a few introductory notes followed by trills.

© Benjamin Clock | Macaulay LibraryArizona, October 17, 2013
Black-throated Sparrow Adult
Adult

Note the white outer tail feathers. Found in desert scrub, canyons, and washes with scattered shrubs.

© Andy Johnson | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, March 19, 2013
Black-throated Sparrow Adult
Adult

Males and females look the same. Adults have 2 white stripes on the face and a black throat, which separates them from other sparrows.

© Luke Seitz | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, March 19, 2013
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Adult Description

  • Black throat.
  • Gray body.
  • White face stripes.
  • White tips to outer tail feathers.

Immature Description

Juvenile similar, without black throat, but with dusky streaks and spots across chest.
Relative Size

Relative Sizesparrow or smallersparrow-sized or smaller
Measurements
  • Both Sexes
    • Length: 4.7-5.5 in (12-14 cm)
    • Weight: 0.4-0.5 oz (11-15 g)

Species in This Family

New World Buntings and Sparrows(Order: Passeriformes, Family:Passerellidae)

Rufous-winged SparrowRufous-winged Sparrow
Botteri's SparrowBotteri's Sparrow
Cassin's SparrowCassin's Sparrow
Grasshopper SparrowGrasshopper Sparrow
Baird's SparrowBaird's Sparrow
Henslow's SparrowHenslow's Sparrow
LeConte's SparrowLeConte's Sparrow
Nelson's SparrowNelson's Sparrow
Saltmarsh SparrowSaltmarsh Sparrow
Seaside SparrowSeaside Sparrow
American Tree SparrowAmerican Tree Sparrow
Chipping SparrowChipping Sparrow
Clay-colored SparrowClay-colored Sparrow
Black-chinned SparrowBlack-chinned Sparrow
Field SparrowField Sparrow
Brewer's SparrowBrewer's Sparrow
Black-throated SparrowBlack-throated Sparrow
Lark SparrowLark Sparrow
Lark BuntingLark Bunting
Fox SparrowFox Sparrow
Dark-eyed JuncoDark-eyed Junco
White-crowned SparrowWhite-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned SparrowGolden-crowned Sparrow
Harris's SparrowHarris's Sparrow
White-throated SparrowWhite-throated Sparrow
Sagebrush SparrowSagebrush Sparrow
Bell's SparrowBell's Sparrow
Vesper SparrowVesper Sparrow
Savannah SparrowSavannah Sparrow
Song SparrowSong Sparrow
Lincoln's SparrowLincoln's Sparrow
Swamp SparrowSwamp Sparrow
Canyon TowheeCanyon Towhee
Abert's TowheeAbert's Towhee
California TowheeCalifornia Towhee
Rufous-crowned SparrowRufous-crowned Sparrow
Green-tailed TowheeGreen-tailed Towhee
Spotted TowheeSpotted Towhee
Eastern TowheeEastern Towhee

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