General

Black-throated Sparrow: Medium-sized sparrow with gray-brown upperparts, unstreaked, white underparts, and a black bib. Head has dark gray cap and sharply contrasting white eyebrow and cheek stripe. Long, round-tipped tail is edged with white. Sexes are similar. Juvenile has streaked upper breast and lacks black bib.

Range and Habitat

Black-throated Sparrow: Breeds from northeastern California, southwestern Wyoming, and southeastern Colorado southward. Spends winters north to the desert regions of the southern U.S. Preferred habitats include deserts and scrublands.

Breeding and Nesting

Black-throated Sparrow: Two to four white or light blue eggs are laid in a loosely built nest made of bark strips, grass, and stems, lined with wool, hair, or feathers, and built in a thorny bush. Incubation ranges from 12 to 15 days and is carried out by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Black-throated Sparrow: Feeds on seeds during winter and insects during breeding season. Also consumes grass and herbs. Gravel is sometimes ingested to aid in digestion; forages on the ground.

Readily Eats

Safflower, Apple Slices, Suet, Millet, Peanut Kernels, Fruit

Vocalization

Black-throated Sparrow: Song is comprised of two clear notes followed by a buzzing trill.

Similar Species

Black-throated Sparrow: Sage and Five-striped sparrows have white throats.