[Length 6.75 in. Wingspan 9 in.]

The White-throated sparrow is a common feeder visitor in the eastern and southwestern US. It is easily identified by the black and white striped head, bright white throat patch, and yellow lores (the spot between the eye and the base of the bill). They travel in loose flocks and are often heard foraging in the leaf litter, as they rapidly hop backward, raking the leaves with their feet to expose insects and other food. White-throated Sparrows have one of the easiest songs to learn, a whistled "POOR SAM PEABODY PEABODY PEABODY". However, some would argue that the song should be "OH SWEET CANADA CANADA CANADA", since most of these birds breed in Canada! This one was photographed along a trail in a central New Jersey woodland. Photo taken with a 500mm f8 Nikkor Mirror lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: May 1986)

[Length 6.75 in. Wingspan 9 in.]

This immature White-throated Sparrow was photographed on one of the islands of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel in Virginia. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm ED f4.5 lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: May 1990)

[Length 6.75 in. Wingspan 9 in.]

This White-throated Sparrow was photographed near a feeder in winter in central New Jersey. Photo taken with a Nikkor 180mm EDAF f2.8 lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: January 1994)

[Length 9 in. Wingspan 11.5 in.]

This California Towhee was photographed in the foothills near Arroyo Grande, California. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF f4.0 lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: November 1997)

[Length 9 in. Wingspan 11.5 in.]

This California Towhee was photographed in the foothills near Arroyo Grande, California. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF f4.0 lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: September 1997)

[Length 9 in. Wingspan 11.5 in.]

This Canyon Towhee was photographed at South Llano River State Park, Junction, Texas. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF-S VR f2.8 lens + Nikkor TC20E II 2.0x Teleconverter (EFL=900mm) on a Nikon D100 camera. (Date: June 28, 2006)

[Length 9 in. Wingspan 11.5 in.]

This Canyon Towhee was photographed in the Davis Mountains near Fort Davis, Texas. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF f4.0 lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: May 1985)

[Length 9 in. Wingspan 11.5 in.]

This Canyon Towhee was photographed during a Christmas Count in West Kerr County, TX. Photo taken with a Nikkor EDAF 300 f4.0 lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: December 2001)