Here in the Twin Cities and in countless other areas, we get thousands upon thousands of white-throated sparrows migrating through in the spring as they head north. They don't stick around long but their distinctive white throat and "Oh Sweet Canada, Canada, Canada" call are a much welcome sign of spring.
Seeing the first one each year is a treat but keep looking, you might be missing out if you start to ignore them. Mixed into flocks of white-throated sparrows will often be a white-crowned sparrow.
White-crowned sparrows belong to the genus Zonotrichia along with the White-throated, Golden-crowned, Fox and Harris's sparrows.
At a quick glance it is easy to dismiss these beautiful birds for yet another white-throated sparrow so keep your eyes open. They often hang out in flocks with white-throats sparrows so you need to look carefully.
White-crowned sparrows are found in the from mid-Iowa south in the winter and in some places out west year-round but are only in Minnesota during migration. They will soon leave for the very northernmost parts of Canada to breed. Get out there and enjoy them while you can.
~Kirk
At a quick glance it is easy to dismiss these beautiful birds for yet another white-throated sparrow so keep your eyes open. They often hang out in flocks with white-throats sparrows so you need to look carefully.
White-crowned sparrows are found in the from mid-Iowa south in the winter and in some places out west year-round but are only in Minnesota during migration. They will soon leave for the very northernmost parts of Canada to breed. Get out there and enjoy them while you can.
~Kirk
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