I am anxiously waiting for the first white-throated sparrows to make an appearance at my backyard feeders. Although I am a fan of all of the birds that winter in my backyard, I am especially fond to this sparrow.
When whitethroats finally make it to my backyard, I will go outside on a crisp fall morning and hear a clear O sweet Canada, Canada, Canada call emanating from a thick shrub. When I hear the bird’s call, I will know that, since the white-throated sparrows migrates at night, there is a good chance it arrived a few hours earlier.
I will hope my yard is its final destination instead of a stopover area. If the bird stays and is an adult, it is possible I hosted it last year. This is because white-throated sparrows are likely return the same wintering area year after year.
Years ago, I learned the white-throated sparrow prefer to dine on the ground. Its favorite food is white millet; however, they will also eat black oil sunflower seeds. Knowing this, I have already set the table for whitethroats by scattering white millet seeds on the ground beneath my feeders. If you want to stand a fighting chance to see one or more of these migrants in your backyard, now is the time to set the banquet table for them. If your efforts are successful, you will understand why I look forward to hosting them every winter.
That’s interesting! I never knew that. Today, I heard one. Maybe if I put out the seeds as you suggested, I will be able to see one this winter.
Diane,
Thanks for your note. Just yesterday I refilled my feeding tables with millet. I hope a sparrow or two will find the white millet soon.
You should be seeing them soon. I heard our first one of the season this morning. We’re in SW Gwinnett County, near Stone Mountain.
John,
That is fantastic news! I will definitely be looking for them. Thanks for the report.
They have ben singing for about a week in my yard in Matt community, northwestern Forsyth Co. at an elevation of 1230 feet.
Thanks for your report–it gives we hope I not have to wait much longer for the birds to arrive here in Monroe County (just north of Macon).
Usually song sparrows arrive with the white crowns in my upland yard, apparently migrants separate from our local resident wetland song sparrows otherwise absent in this vicinity.
Thanks for the great observation!
What a sweet commentary on this little sparrow. I will remember this when I see one. Thank you
Thank you, Linda. I don’t believe that there are any other winter birds that has such a beautiful, soothing song.
White-throated sparrows have returned to the Upstate of South Carolina! I’ve had them in my yard for at least a couple of weeks – first one, then a couple more, now there are several. I feed a no-mess seed mix on the railings of my deck, and they come right up out of the bushes and trees so I get really good views of them. So beautiful! Yours will be arriving soon, I’m sure.
Anne,
Thanks for sharing your info on white-throated sparrows. I heard the first one a couple of days ago but have not yet seen one. I have never heard of them feeding on a deck before—you are so lucky!