Fauna Flora Photography

White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis

A common small sparrow with two slightly different morphs and the interesting behavior to mate only with the opposite morph. Migrates South in winter. Usually lingers near the ground within dense vegetation like bushes and low growing trees. Diet consists of seed, insects and berries.

How to Identify

The white throat is the name giving distinguished characteristing, I look for the yellow stripe above the eye, followed by a black and then in the middle of the head a white stripe. The other morph’s white stripes on the head are more brownish.

Where and When to Spot

All spring, summer and autumn. Most have left in winter but I observed a single individuum at a feeder in Park Mont-Royal in winter.

	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Jardin Botanique de Montréal	-	-	-	x
Parc Angrignon	x	-	-	-
Parc Nature Pointe aux Prairies	x	-	-	-
Parc des Rapides	x	-	-	-

Where and when a species has been observed, identified, and recorded.

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Last updated on 2023-12-15. Written and regularly updated by Karl-Heinz Müller, Dipl. Natw. ETH, Biology. With 10 years of experience in wildlife photography, Karl-Heinz shares first-hand, on-site collected observations, photos and videos from his frequent visits to parks in the Montreal area.