White-throated Sparrow Sounds

Overview
ID info
Life History
Maps
Sounds

Song
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Quebec, May 29, 2018Recorded by Jocelyn Lauzon / Macaulay Library
Song
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New York, July 02, 2011Recorded by Sean O'Brien / Macaulay Library
Song
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Quebec, June 25, 1953Recorded by Arthur A. Allen / Macaulay Library
Song
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New York, April 15, 2020Recorded by Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library
Calls
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New York, June 14, 2020Recorded by Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library
Calls
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Maryland, March 26, 2000Recorded by Wil Hershberger / Macaulay Library
Calls
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New York, June 02, 2013Recorded by Matthew D. Medler / Macaulay Library
Tink calls
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New York, July 19, 2020Recorded by Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library
Flight calls
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Illinois, May 07, 2020Recorded by Matt Wistrand / Macaulay Library
Flight calls
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New York, May 13, 2020Recorded by Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library

Sounds provided by Macaulay Library.
Listen to more sounds of this species from the ML archive.

Songs

White-throated Sparrows sing a pretty, thin whistle that sounds like Oh-sweet-canada-canada or Old-Sam-Peabody-Peabody. The whistles are even but typically move slightly up or down in pitch by the second or third note. The whole song lasts about 4 seconds. White-throated Sparrows sing often during the breeding season, even in the middle of the day, and on their winter range as well. Males of both forms sing, and so does the “white-striped” female. “Tan-striped” females sing very rarely.

Calls

The main call of the White-throated Sparrow is a sharp, explosive, chink, often given by an agitated bird with crown feathers raised, flicking its tail. It’s an alarm call often given near a nest or when a predator or other threat has been spotted. A two-parted chip-up is a sign of aggression between two birds or given when adults arrive at the nest. White-throated Sparrows also make a trill that can be up to 2 seconds long. Females do this as part of courtship; males sometimes use trills to signal aggression as they push their head forward and flutter their wings. Flock members make a high, level seep.