WHITE-THROATED SPARROW 1365 



England, central Wisconsin and central Alberta north to the limit of 

 trees in northern Canada. It winters over most of the eastern United 

 States, with a westerly extension into southern Arizona, Nevada, and 

 throughout California. 



The first description of the white-throated sparrow was published 

 in G. Edward's "Gleanings" (1760), and was based on a specimen from 

 "Pensilvania." Edward's description formed the basis for the 

 scientific name Fringilla albicollis Gmelin, which appears in Linnaeus' 

 "System Naturae" (1789). 



Perhaps the most familiar characteristic of the white-throated 

 sparrow is its song, from which many vernacular names have arisen. 

 A number of these names are listed by W. L. McAtee (1957) — Canada 

 bird, Canada whitethroat, Canadian song sparrow, Hard-times 

 Canada bird, Kennedy bird, Nightingale, Night-singer, Old Sam 

 Peabody, Old Tom Peabody, Paddy-wack, Peabiddy bird, Peabody, 

 Peabody bird, Poor Kennedy bird, Poor Sam Peabody, Sweet pinkey, 

 Sweet sweet Canada bird, Tom Peabody, Whistle bird, Whistling 

 sparrow, and Widow bird. French Canadians know the white-throat 

 by such names as Frederic, Petit Frederic, Linotte, Rossignol, and 

 Siffleur. The only names based on plumage characteristics are 

 striped-head, white-throat, and, in French Canada, le Pinson a Gorge 

 Blanche. 



Until recently most published literature on the white-throated 

 spurrow was concerned mainly with physiological studies, or with 

 different aspects of migration and wintering habits. Comparatively 

 little was known of the species on its breeding grounds. Since 1958 

 James K. Lowther, J. Bruce Falls, and others have been conducting 

 researches on nesting habitat, nesting cycle, plumages, song, and 

 behavior in the southern portion of Algonquin Provincial Park, 

 Ontario. Unless otherwise noted, information reported here is drawn 

 from these studies. 



The white- throated sparrow is a brushland bird in both its breeding 

 and wintering ranges. In Algonquin Park it nests most frequently 

 in clearings in semiopen stands of balsam fir (Abies balsamea) and 

 spruces (Picea spp.), and to a lesser extent in semiopen mixed stands 

 of birch (Betula papyri f era) , poplars (Populus spp.), balsam fir, and 

 spruces. In general, the nest is located on the ground in areas of 

 small trees between which are clumps of beaked hazel (Corylus cornuta) 

 and a ground vegetation of blueberry (Vaccinum spp.) and various 

 grasses and herbs. 



Harold S. Peters and Thomas D. Burleigh (1951) reported that in 

 Newfoundland some white-throats were present in the "high ptarmigan 

 barrens where clumps of dwarf spruce and tamarack furnish shelter." 

 At Goose Bay, Labrador, W. W. Judd (1951) found that white- 



