Bird

White-throated Sparrow

Zonotrichia albicollis

A winter visitor to West Virginia, found in all 55 counties and 12 habitats.

Here: Winter
Nesting: Not known to nest here
Range: All 55 counties
Habitats: 12

Male White-throated Sparrow, whole bird — **Male**. (c) Sandy Wolkenberg, some rights reserved (CC BY). CC BY 4.0. iNaturalist photo 254512197. Source-provided large resize; no crop or image edits.

At a glance

Group: Birds
Here: Winter
Nesting: Not known to nest here
Range: All 55 counties
Habitats: 12
Habitat models: Winter

Where it lives

The places its habitat model includes. It is not found everywhere a habitat occurs.

Habitats in West Virginia 12

Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

1 of 12

Dry forests and woodlands

Forests and open woodlands on dry ridges and slopes, often oak or pine.

WinterSouthern and Central Appalachian Oak Forest - Xeric; Allegheny-Cumberland Dry Oak Forest and Woodland - Hardwood; Central and Southern Appalachian Montane Oak Forest; Southern Appalachian Montane Pine Forest and Woodland

Floodplain and bottomland forests

Forests on low ground beside rivers and streams that flood from time to time.

WinterCentral Appalachian Riparian - Forest Modifier; South-Central Interior Large Floodplain - Forest Modifier; Central Interior and Appalachian Floodplain Systems; Central Interior and Appalachian Riparian Systems; South-Central Interior Small Stream and Riparian; South-Central Interior Large Floodplain

Forest edges and thickets

Borders of forests, clearings and shrubby thickets.

WinterDisturbed/Successional - Shrub Regeneration; Successional Shrub/Scrub (Other); Harvested Forest - Shrub Regeneration

Moderately dry forests

Forests between dry and moist, often oak-hickory on slopes.

WinterNortheastern Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest; Southern and Central Appalachian Oak Forest

Moist forests

Forests on moist but not wet ground, such as rich slopes and ravines.

WinterSouthern and Central Appalachian Cove Forest; South-Central Interior Mesophytic Forest

Mountain balds

Treeless grassy or shrubby summits and ridges in the high mountains.

WinterSouthern Appalachian Grass and Shrub Bald - Shrub Modifier

Rich cove forests

Sheltered, moist mountain hollows and lower slopes with deep, fertile soil.

WinterSouthern and Central Appalachian Cove Forest

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.

WinterDeveloped, Open Space

Spruce-fir forests

Cool, evergreen forests of red spruce and Fraser fir on the highest mountains.

Winter

Streams, rivers and their banks

Flowing water and its banks, bars and rocky shoals.

WinterCentral Interior and Appalachian Riparian Systems; South-Central Interior Small Stream and Riparian

Swamps

Forested wetlands with standing water much of the year, such as cypress and gum swamps.

WinterCentral Interior and Appalachian Swamp Systems

Tree plantations and managed pine

Planted or intensively managed stands of pine or hardwoods grown for timber; a land use rather than a natural community.

WinterDeciduous Plantation; Evergreen Plantation or Managed Pine; Managed Tree Plantation

Other habitats in its models (153)

Land cover, or classes with no habitat page in West Virginia.

Developed, Low Intensity Winter.
Developed, Medium Intensity Winter.
Orchards Vineyards and Other High Structure Agriculture Winter.
Southwestern Great Plains Canyon Winter.
Central and Southern Appalachian Northern Hardwood Forest Winter.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Limestone Forest Winter.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Loess Plain Oak-Hickory Upland - Hardwood Modifier Winter.
Northeastern Interior Dry Oak Forest-Hardwood Modifier Winter.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Loess Plain Oak-Hickory Upland - Juniper Modifier Winter.
Ozark-Ouachita Dry-Mesic Oak Forest Winter.
Southern Interior Low Plateau Dry-Mesic Oak Forest Winter.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Dry Upland Hardwood Forest Winter.
Crosstimbers Oak Forest and Woodland Winter.
North-Central Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest and Woodland Winter.
North-Central Interior Dry Oak Forest and Woodland Winter.
Ouachita Montane Oak Forest Winter.
North-Central Interior Beech-Maple Forest Winter.
North-Central Interior Maple-Basswood Forest Winter.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Loess Bluff Forest Winter.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Southern Loess Bluff Forest Winter.
Southern Coastal Plain Dry Upland Hardwood Forest Winter.
Atlantic Coastal Plain Dry and Dry-Mesic Oak Forest Winter.
Southwest Florida Coastal Strand and Maritime Hammock Winter.
Southeast Florida Coastal Strand and Maritime Hammock Winter.
Central and South Texas Coastal Fringe Forest and Woodland Winter.
West Gulf Coastal Plain Chenier and Upper Texas Coastal Fringe Forest and Woodland Winter.
Mississippi River Alluvial Plain Dry-Mesic Loess Slope Forest Winter.
East-Central Texas Plains Post Oak Savanna and Woodland Winter.
East-Central Texas Plains Riparian Forest Winter.
East-Central Texas Plains Floodplain Forest Winter.
Ozark-Ouachita Dry Oak Woodland Winter.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Maritime Forest Winter.
Lower Mississippi River Dune Woodland and Forest Winter.
Edwards Plateau Limestone Savanna and Woodland Winter.
Mississippi Delta Maritime Forest Winter.
Western Great Plains Wooded Draw and Ravine Winter.
Southern Piedmont Mesic Forest Winter.
Southern Crowley's Ridge Mesic Loess Slope Forest Winter.
West Gulf Coastal Plain Mesic Hardwood Forest Winter.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Mesic Hardwood Forest Winter.
Ozark-Ouachita Mesic Hardwood Forest Winter.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Southern Mesic Slope Forest Winter.
Atlantic Coastal Plain Central Maritime Forest Winter.
Atlantic Coastal Plain Southern Maritime Forest Winter.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Shortleaf Pine-Oak Forest - Hardwood Modifier Winter.
Southern Piedmont Dry Oak-(Pine) Forest - Hardwood Modifier Winter.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Black Belt Calcareous Prairie and Woodland - Woodland Modifier Winter.
Northeastern Interior Dry Oak Forest - Virginia/Pitch Pine Modifier Winter.
Southern Piedmont Dry Oak-(Pine) Forest - Loblolly Pine Modifier Winter.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Dry Upland Hardwood Forest - Offsite Pine Modifier Winter.
Allegheny-Cumberland Dry Oak Forest and Woodland - Pine Modifier Winter.
Southern Ridge and Valley Dry Calcareous Forest - Pine modifier Winter.
Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Dry Hardwood Forest Winter.
West Gulf Coastal Plain Upland Longleaf Pine Forest and Woodland Winter.
Southeastern Interior Longleaf Pine Woodland Winter.
Ozark-Ouachita Shortleaf Pine-Oak Forest and Woodland Winter.
West Gulf Coastal Plain Pine-Hardwood Forest Winter.
Southern Ridge and Valley Dry Calcareous Forest Winter.
West Gulf Coastal Plain Sandhill Oak and Shortleaf Pine Forest and Woodland Winter.
Atlantic Coastal Plain Mesic Hardwood and Mixed Forest Winter.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Upland Longleaf Pine Woodland - Offsite Hardwood Modifier Winter.
Florida Longleaf Pine Sandhill - Open Understory Modifier Winter.
Florida Longleaf Pine Sandhill - Scrub/Shrub Understory Modifier Winter.
Atlantic Coastal Plain Fall-Line Sandhills Longleaf Pine Woodland - Loblolly Modifier Winter.
Atlantic Coastal Plain Fall-line Sandhills Longleaf Pine Woodland - Open Understory Modifier Winter.
Atlantic Coastal Plain Fall-line Sandhills Longleaf Pine Woodland - Scrub/Shrub Understory Modifier Winter.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Upland Longleaf Pine Woodland - Loblolly Modifier Winter.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Upland Longleaf Pine Woodland - Open Understory Modifier Winter.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Upland Longleaf Pine Woodland - Scrub/Shrub Modifier Winter.
Atlantic Coastal Plain Upland Longleaf Pine Woodland Winter.
Southern Appalachian Low Mountain Pine Forest Winter.
East-Central Texas Plains Pine Forest and Woodland Winter.
Ozark-Ouachita Shortleaf Pine-Bluestem Woodland Winter.
Atlantic Coastal Plain Fall-line Sandhills Longleaf Pine Woodland - Offsite Hardwood Modifier Winter.
Florida Peninsula Inland Scrub Winter.
Inter-Mountain Basins Mat Saltbush Shrubland Winter.
Northern Rocky Mountain Montane-Foothill Deciduous Shrubland Winter.
Western Great Plains Mesquite Woodland and Shrubland Winter.
Edwards Plateau Limestone Shrubland Winter.
Rocky Mountain Alpine Fell-Field Winter.
Recently Logged Areas Winter.
Recently Burned Winter.
Recently Burned Forest Winter.
Recently Burned Shrubland Winter.
Introduced Upland Vegetation - Shrub Winter.
Atlantic Coastal Plain Central Salt and Brackish Tidal Marsh Winter.
Atlantic Coastal Plain Indian River Lagoon Tidal Marsh Winter.
Atlantic Coastal Plain Embayed Region Tidal Salt and Brackish Marsh Winter.
Mississippi Sound Salt and Brackish Tidal Marsh Winter.
Atlantic Coastal Plain Northern Tidal Salt Marsh Winter.
Florida Big Bend Salt-Brackish Tidal Marsh Winter.
Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp - Okefenokee Taxodium Modifier Winter.
Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp - Okefenokee Bay/Gum Modifier Winter.
Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp - Okefenokee Clethra Modifier Winter.
Southern Coastal Plain Seepage Swamp and Baygall Winter.
West Gulf Coastal Plain Seepage Swamp and Baygall Winter.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Tidal Wooded Swamp Winter.
Atlantic Coastal Plain Streamhead Seepage Swamp - Pocosin - and Baygall Winter.
Atlantic Coastal Plain Southern Tidal Wooded Swamp Winter.
South Florida Everglades Sawgrass Marsh Winter.
Gulf and Atlantic Coastal Plain Tidal Marsh Systems Winter.
Central Interior and Appalachian Shrub-Herbaceous Wetland Systems Winter.
Floridian Highlands Freshwater Marsh Winter.
South Florida Mangrove Swamp Winter.
West Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Large River Swamp Winter.
South Florida Bayhead Swamp Winter.
Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp Winter.
Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Basin Swamp and Wet Hardwood Forest Winter.
Atlantic Coastal Plain Nonriverine Swamp and Wet Hardwood Forest - Taxodium/Nyssa Modifier Winter.
Atlantic Coastal Plain Nonriverine Swamp and Wet Hardwood Forest - Oak Dominated Modifier Winter.
Atlantic Coastal Plain Clay-Based Carolina Bay Forested Wetland Winter.
South Florida Dwarf Cypress Savanna Winter.
South Florida Wet Marl Prairie Winter.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Savanna and Wet Prairie Winter.
Lower Mississippi River Bottomland Depressions - Forest Modifier Winter.
Southern Piedmont/Ridge and Valley Upland Depression Swamp Winter.
Atlantic Coastal Plain Blackwater Stream Floodplain Forest - Forest Modifier Winter.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Large River Floodplain Forest - Forest Modifier Winter.
Southern Piedmont Large Floodplain Forest - Forest Modifier Winter.
Western Great Plains Floodplain Systems Winter.
Eastern Great Plains Floodplain Systems Winter.
Western Great Plains Floodplain Winter.
Mississippi River Riparian Forest Winter.
Edwards Plateau Riparian Winter.
Mississippi River Low Floodplain (Bottomland) Forest Winter.
West Gulf Coastal Plain Small Stream and River Forest Winter.
West Gulf Coastal Plain Large River Floodplain Forest Winter.
Southern Piedmont Small Floodplain and Riparian Forest Winter.
Atlantic Coastal Plain Small Brownwater River Floodplain Forest Winter.
Atlantic Coastal Plain Small Blackwater River Floodplain Forest Winter.
Red River Large Floodplain Forest Winter.
Atlantic Coastal Plain Brownwater Stream Floodplain Forest Winter.
Western Great Plains Riparian Woodland and Shrubland Winter.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Small Stream and River Floodplain Forest Winter.
Southern Coastal Plain Blackwater River Floodplain Forest Winter.
Mississippi River Floodplain and Riparian Forest Winter.
Ozark-Ouachita Riparian Winter.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Jackson Plain Dry Flatwoods - Open Understory Modifier Winter.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Pine Flatwoods - Offsite Hardwood Modifier Winter.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Pine Flatwoods - Open Understory Modifier Winter.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Pine Flatwoods - Scrub/Shrub Understory Modifier Winter.
South Florida Pine Flatwoods Winter.
Central Atlantic Coastal Plain Wet Longleaf Pine Savanna and Flatwoods Winter.
Atlantic Coastal Plain Southern Wet Pine Savanna and Flatwoods Winter.
West Gulf Coastal Plain Wet Longleaf Pine Savanna and Flatwoods Winter.
Central Florida Pine Flatwoods Winter.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Pine Flatwoods Winter.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Southern Loblolly-Hardwood Flatwoods Winter.
South-Central Interior / Upper Coastal Plain Wet Flatwoods Winter.
West Gulf Coastal Plain Pine-Hardwood Flatwoods Winter.
North-Central Interior Wet Flatwoods Winter.
Lower Mississippi River Flatwoods Winter.
West Gulf Coastal Plain Nonriverine Wet Hardwood Flatwoods Winter.