A VISITOR ARRIVED YESTERDAY...

...a White-throated Sparrow. This is the first time I have seen one since the beginning of the year. I was delighted.

They are fascinating little birds and there is a wealth of information about them if you do a search. I read that "on average a female lays four pale-blue or greenish-blue eggs that are speckled with purple or chestnut. She incubates her eggs for around 12 days. Both parents feed the young birds, which leave the nest seven to 12 days after hatching. 

After fledging, these 'youngsters' still depend on their parents for an additional two weeks or so. White-throated sparrows occasionally mate with Dark-eyed Juncos, with the resulting offspring resembling extra gray White throated Sparrows. A hybrid's song combines the trill of a junco with the triplet notes of the White-throated Sparrow.

White-throated sparrows measure 6 to 7.5 inches (15 to 19 cm) long.

You can read all about it at this website.

There is a very interesting article at this link telling us how it developed a new song. I added the following video from YouTube, so that you could hear its call. A word of warning, it sings very high- pitched notes. When I showed it to Gregg to listen to, he said something akin to, "Wow!"

If the link doesn't open for you, here's the full address that you can cut and paste: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXsiA6wcdSA 

 

More information by asking Google AI Mode which I also found fascinating:

"Unlike many birds where males are bright and females are dull, male and female White-throated Sparrows look nearly identical. Their primary difference is not based on sex, but on a unique genetic trait known as color morphs.

The Two Morphs (White vs Tan):

Both males and females come in two distinct color forms, or "morphs".

White-striped morph: bright white stripes on the head, high contrast black stripes and a very crisp white throat patch.

Tan-striped morph: dull tan or brown head stripes and a less defined white throat.

Key Differences Between Males and Females:

While they share the same color morphs, subtle differences exist in behaviour and minor physical traits:

Subtle Coloration: males may have slightly darker head stripes and brighter yellow "lores" (the spots between the eye and bill) than females.

Singing: males of both morphs sing frequently to defend territory. While white-striped females also sing, tan-striped females rarely do.

Size: females are slightly smaller on average.

Nesting roles: only females build the nest and incubate the eggs. Both parents feed the chicks, though tan-striped birds (regardless of sex) are generally more nurturing and provide more frequent feeding than white-striped individuals.

The "Four Sexes" Phenomenon:

White-throated Sparrows are famous for a "disassortative" mating system. Almost exclusively, white-striped birds mate with tan-striped birds. This creates four distinct reproductive roles:

White-striped Male: highly aggressive, sings often, less parental care.

White-striped Female: more aggressive than tan-striped females, sings occasionally.

Tan-striped Male: less aggressive, focuses more on protecting his mate and feeding chicks.

Tan-striped Female: quiet, nurturing, and dedicated to parental care.

Thanks for visiting me and I hope your day goes well.