White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) is in the New World Sparrows family (Passerellidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 91,751 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: winter visitor. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph White-throated Sparrow: observations by month (U.S.)
About White-throated Sparrow
The white-throated sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) is a passerine bird of the American sparrow family Passerellidae.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
White-throated Sparrow by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 8,858 | January | Nov–Apr |
| New York | 8,333 | April | Oct–May |
| Pennsylvania | 8,267 | April | Oct–Apr |
| Maryland | 7,882 | January | Oct–Apr |
| Virginia | 6,114 | April | Nov–Apr |
| North Carolina | 4,277 | January | Nov–Apr |
| New Jersey | 4,178 | October | Oct–Apr |
| Ohio | 3,869 | April | Apr–May |
| Massachusetts | 3,836 | April | Oct–May |
| Illinois | 3,560 | April | Apr–May |
| Tennessee | 2,856 | January | Nov–Apr |
| Minnesota | 2,659 | April | Apr–May |
| South Carolina | 2,488 | January | Nov–Apr |
| California | 2,089 | December | Oct–Apr |
| Missouri | 1,949 | April | Oct–Apr |
| Vermont | 1,928 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Connecticut | 1,703 | October | Oct–Feb |
| Arkansas | 1,691 | January | Nov–Apr |
| Michigan | 1,532 | April | Apr–May |
| Wisconsin | 1,377 | April | Apr–May |
| Alabama | 1,051 | January | Nov–Apr |
| Indiana | 973 | April | Apr–May |
| Georgia | 958 | January | Nov–Apr |
| Maine | 890 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Delaware | 796 | January | Nov–Apr |
| Louisiana | 723 | January | Nov–Apr |
| New Hampshire | 713 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Kentucky | 640 | April | Oct–Apr |
| Oregon | 619 | December | Oct–Apr |
| District of Columbia | 605 | April | Oct–Apr |
| Mississippi | 518 | January | Nov–Apr |
| Oklahoma | 491 | April | Nov–Apr |
| Kansas | 427 | April | Oct–Apr |
| Iowa | 357 | April | Apr–May |
| Rhode Island | 324 | April | Mar–Apr |
| West Virginia | 314 | January | Oct–Feb |
| New Mexico | 256 | January | Oct–Apr |
| Florida | 253 | January | Dec–Mar |
| Arizona | 251 | December | Nov–Apr |
| Washington | 250 | October | Sep–Apr |
| Nebraska | 182 | April | Apr–May |
| Colorado | 148 | October | Oct–Nov |
| Alaska | 130 | November | Oct–Jan |
| North Dakota | 110 | May | Apr–May |
| South Dakota | 97 | May | Apr–May |
| Montana | 68 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Idaho | 57 | October | Sep–Nov |
| Utah | 56 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Nevada | 36 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Wyoming | 12 | October | Oct–Oct |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (New World Sparrows)
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Spotted Towhee
California Towhee
Eastern Towhee
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph White-throated Sparrow?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from October to May.
Where is White-throated Sparrow most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, New York, Pennsylvania.