White-throated Sparrows

White-throated sparrows are easily one of my most favorite birds. They’re a large sparrow often found in flocks scratching and turning over leaf litter in and around thickets and hedge boundaries. In my backyard, they frequently show up in mid-November and stay throughout the winter, leaving in early April. However, if you want to see them, head to the trailhead of the Alberton Road Trail (off of Dogwood Rd.). If you walk just 20 yards or so passed the trail’s gate you’ll find white-throats all year long, but especially during the winter. This is where I spotted the bird in this photo. He and his mates were busy foraging for food in and around the dried grass in the thickets on either side of the trail. While they’re not particularly shy, they are a challenge to photograph, as they constantly flit around and almost always stay within the confines of the thickets.

I have often seen white-throated sparrows and juncos together in mid-January, but on this occasion I didn’t see a single junco. Next time, I hope.

Best wishes,

Bob