Like most mornings recently it was mighty cold this morning. Actually it was 10° when I took this picture. This tan striped White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) was fluffed up to keep warm while getting its breakfast of hulled sunflower seeds.
By fluffing up their feathers, birds are creating trapped body heat against their skin, which acts like a down jacket. That trapped air is warm, helping to keep the bird comfortable.
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A White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) trying to stay warm in the garden.
Yesterday 4 inches of snow fell on my cabin. More than I had expected, and now, 7 inches of snow in less than a week. Hmmm. What kind of winter are we going to have? Could be fun!
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The white-striped morph of the White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis). This morph has a bold black and white cap, along with bright yellow lores (area between and just above the eye and bill), crisp pale gray breast, and a pure snow white throat.
Males and females of this morph sing more frequently, are more aggressive, and are more territorial than tan-striped morphs. White-striped females mate with tan-striped males, and white-striped males mate with tan-striped females. The white-striped morphs give less care and attention to their young than those of the tan-striped morphs.
The tan-striped morph of the White-throated Sparrow. This morph has a dark chocolate brown and tan cap, along with small dull yellow lores, a breast that is pale tan with medium brown speckles, and a whitish throat that has some small speckles.
Both males and females of this morph are quiet and not aggressive. Males of the white-striped morph mate with tan-striped females. Males of the tan-striped morph mate with white-striped females. The tan-striped morph of both sexes give more care and attention to their young than those of the white-striped morph.
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They arrive here in late autumn, stay during the winter enjoying the snow, and are here for a good bit of spring. Their population is most dense in the southeastern United States during late autumn, winter, and early spring. The breeding season finds them in Canada, and northern parts of the northeastern United States.
They’ll be here for perhaps two or three more weeks and then they’re heading north. Migration adds an interesting dimension to bird watching.
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