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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 M 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
    See more images of this species in Macaulay Library

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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
    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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