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

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.



Forests and open woodlands on dry ridges and slopes, often oak or pine.
Floodplain and bottomland forests
Forests on low ground beside rivers and streams that flood from time to time.
Forests between dry and moist, often oak-hickory on slopes.
Treeless grassy or shrubby summits and ridges in the high mountains.
Sheltered, moist mountain hollows and lower slopes with deep, fertile soil.
Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground
Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.
Cool, evergreen forests of red spruce and Fraser fir on the highest mountains.
Streams, rivers and their banks
Flowing water and its banks, bars and rocky shoals.
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.
Other habitats in its models (153)
Land cover, or classes with no habitat page in West Virginia. Those recorded in West Virginia first, the rest by region.
Elsewhere in the South (90)
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Brownwater Stream Floodplain Forest Winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Central Maritime Forest Winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Central Salt and Brackish Tidal Marsh Winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Dry and Dry-Mesic Oak Forest Winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Embayed Region Tidal Salt and Brackish Marsh Winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Indian River Lagoon Tidal Marsh Winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Mesic Hardwood and Mixed Forest Winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Small Blackwater River Floodplain Forest Winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Small Brownwater River Floodplain Forest Winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Southern Maritime Forest Winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Southern Tidal Wooded Swamp Winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Southern Wet Pine Savanna and Flatwoods Winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Upland Longleaf Pine Woodland Winter.
- Central and South Texas Coastal Fringe Forest and Woodland Winter.
- Central and Southern Appalachian Northern Hardwood Forest Winter.
- Central Atlantic Coastal Plain Wet Longleaf Pine Savanna and Flatwoods Winter.
- Central Florida Pine Flatwoods Winter.
- Crosstimbers Oak Forest and Woodland Winter.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Limestone Forest Winter.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Maritime Forest Winter.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Pine Flatwoods Winter.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Dry Upland Hardwood Forest Winter.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Loess Bluff Forest Winter.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Mesic Hardwood Forest Winter.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Savanna and Wet Prairie Winter.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Small Stream and River Floodplain Forest Winter.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Southern Loblolly-Hardwood Flatwoods Winter.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Southern Loess Bluff Forest Winter.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Southern Mesic Slope Forest Winter.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Tidal Wooded Swamp Winter.
- East-Central Texas Plains Floodplain Forest Winter.
- East-Central Texas Plains Pine Forest and Woodland Winter.
- East-Central Texas Plains Post Oak Savanna and Woodland Winter.
- East-Central Texas Plains Riparian Forest Winter.
- Edwards Plateau Limestone Savanna and Woodland Winter.
- Edwards Plateau Limestone Shrubland Winter.
- Edwards Plateau Riparian Winter.
- Florida Big Bend Salt-Brackish Tidal Marsh Winter.
- Florida Peninsula Inland Scrub Winter.
- Floridian Highlands Freshwater Marsh Winter.
- Lower Mississippi River Dune Woodland and Forest Winter.
- Lower Mississippi River Flatwoods Winter.
- Mississippi Delta Maritime Forest Winter.
- Mississippi River Alluvial Plain Dry-Mesic Loess Slope Forest Winter.
- Mississippi River Low Floodplain (Bottomland) Forest Winter.
- Mississippi River Riparian Forest Winter.
- Mississippi Sound Salt and Brackish Tidal Marsh Winter.
- Ouachita Montane Oak Forest Winter.
- Ozark-Ouachita Dry Oak Woodland Winter.
- Ozark-Ouachita Dry-Mesic Oak Forest Winter.
- Ozark-Ouachita Mesic Hardwood Forest Winter.
- Ozark-Ouachita Riparian Winter.
- Ozark-Ouachita Shortleaf Pine-Bluestem Woodland Winter.
- Ozark-Ouachita Shortleaf Pine-Oak Forest and Woodland Winter.
- Red River Large Floodplain Forest Winter.
- South Florida Bayhead Swamp Winter.
- South Florida Dwarf Cypress Savanna Winter.
- South Florida Everglades Sawgrass Marsh Winter.
- South Florida Mangrove Swamp Winter.
- South Florida Pine Flatwoods Winter.
- South Florida Wet Marl Prairie Winter.
- South-Central Interior / Upper Coastal Plain Wet Flatwoods Winter.
- Southeast Florida Coastal Strand and Maritime Hammock Winter.
- Southeastern Interior Longleaf Pine Woodland Winter.
- Southern Appalachian Low Mountain Pine Forest Winter.
- Southern Coastal Plain Blackwater River Floodplain Forest Winter.
- Southern Coastal Plain Dry Upland Hardwood Forest Winter.
- Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp Winter.
- Southern Coastal Plain Seepage Swamp and Baygall Winter.
- Southern Crowley's Ridge Mesic Loess Slope Forest Winter.
- Southern Interior Low Plateau Dry-Mesic Oak Forest Winter.
- Southern Piedmont Mesic Forest Winter.
- Southern Piedmont Small Floodplain and Riparian Forest Winter.
- Southern Ridge and Valley Dry Calcareous Forest Winter.
- Southwest Florida Coastal Strand and Maritime Hammock Winter.
- Southwestern Great Plains Canyon Winter.
- West Gulf Coastal Plain Chenier and Upper Texas Coastal Fringe Forest and Woodland Winter.
- West Gulf Coastal Plain Large River Floodplain Forest Winter.
- West Gulf Coastal Plain Mesic Hardwood Forest Winter.
- West Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Large River Swamp Winter.
- West Gulf Coastal Plain Nonriverine Wet Hardwood Flatwoods Winter.
- West Gulf Coastal Plain Pine-Hardwood Flatwoods Winter.
- West Gulf Coastal Plain Pine-Hardwood Forest Winter.
- West Gulf Coastal Plain Sandhill Oak and Shortleaf Pine Forest and Woodland Winter.
- West Gulf Coastal Plain Seepage Swamp and Baygall Winter.
- West Gulf Coastal Plain Small Stream and River Forest Winter.
- West Gulf Coastal Plain Upland Longleaf Pine Forest and Woodland Winter.
- West Gulf Coastal Plain Wet Longleaf Pine Savanna and Flatwoods Winter.
- Western Great Plains Floodplain Winter.
- Western Great Plains Mesquite Woodland and Shrubland Winter.
Northeast (4)
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Northern Tidal Salt Marsh Winter.
- North-Central Interior Wet Flatwoods Winter.
- Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Basin Swamp and Wet Hardwood Forest Winter.
- Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Dry Hardwood Forest Winter.
Midwest (5)
- North-Central Interior Beech-Maple Forest Winter.
- North-Central Interior Dry Oak Forest and Woodland Winter.
- North-Central Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest and Woodland Winter.
- North-Central Interior Maple-Basswood Forest Winter.
- Western Great Plains Wooded Draw and Ravine Winter.
West (4)
- Inter-Mountain Basins Mat Saltbush Shrubland Winter.
- Northern Rocky Mountain Montane-Foothill Deciduous Shrubland Winter.
- Rocky Mountain Alpine Fell-Field Winter.
- Western Great Plains Riparian Woodland and Shrubland Winter.
Land cover and other classes (50)
- Allegheny-Cumberland Dry Oak Forest and Woodland - Pine Modifier Winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Blackwater Stream Floodplain Forest - Forest Modifier Winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Clay-Based Carolina Bay Forested Wetland Winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Fall-Line Sandhills Longleaf Pine Woodland - Loblolly Modifier Winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Fall-line Sandhills Longleaf Pine Woodland - Offsite Hardwood 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.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Nonriverine Swamp and Wet Hardwood Forest - Oak Dominated Modifier Winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Nonriverine Swamp and Wet Hardwood Forest - Taxodium/Nyssa Modifier Winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Streamhead Seepage Swamp - Pocosin - and Baygall Winter.
- Central Interior and Appalachian Shrub-Herbaceous Wetland Systems Winter.
- Developed, Low Intensity Winter.
- Developed, Medium Intensity Winter.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Black Belt Calcareous Prairie and Woodland - Woodland Modifier Winter.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Shortleaf Pine-Oak Forest - Hardwood Modifier Winter.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Upland Longleaf Pine Woodland - Loblolly Modifier Winter.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Upland Longleaf Pine Woodland - Offsite Hardwood 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.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Jackson Plain Dry Flatwoods - Open Understory Modifier Winter.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Large River Floodplain Forest - Forest 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.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Dry Upland Hardwood Forest - Offsite Pine Modifier Winter.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Loess Plain Oak-Hickory Upland - Hardwood Modifier Winter.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Loess Plain Oak-Hickory Upland - Juniper Modifier Winter.
- Eastern Great Plains Floodplain Systems Winter.
- Florida Longleaf Pine Sandhill - Open Understory Modifier Winter.
- Florida Longleaf Pine Sandhill - Scrub/Shrub Understory Modifier Winter.
- Gulf and Atlantic Coastal Plain Tidal Marsh Systems Winter.
- Introduced Upland Vegetation - Shrub Winter.
- Lower Mississippi River Bottomland Depressions - Forest Modifier Winter.
- Mississippi River Floodplain and Riparian Forest Winter.
- Northeastern Interior Dry Oak Forest - Virginia/Pitch Pine Modifier Winter.
- Northeastern Interior Dry Oak Forest-Hardwood Modifier Winter.
- Orchards Vineyards and Other High Structure Agriculture Winter.
- Recently Burned Winter.
- Recently Burned Forest Winter.
- Recently Burned Shrubland Winter.
- Recently Logged Areas 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 Nonriverine Basin Swamp - Okefenokee Taxodium Modifier Winter.
- Southern Piedmont Dry Oak-(Pine) Forest - Hardwood Modifier Winter.
- Southern Piedmont Dry Oak-(Pine) Forest - Loblolly Pine Modifier Winter.
- Southern Piedmont Large Floodplain Forest - Forest Modifier Winter.
- Southern Piedmont/Ridge and Valley Upland Depression Swamp Winter.
- Southern Ridge and Valley Dry Calcareous Forest - Pine modifier Winter.
- Western Great Plains Floodplain Systems Winter.
Seasons in West Virginia
- Winter: does not nest here, in all 55 counties.
Also found in its main habitats
Its main habitats in West Virginia, by how much of its habitat model each one is, with the birds most characteristic of each and the plants that grow wild there. Shared habitat, not food.
Floodplain and bottomland forests
Birds 103
- Blue-winged TealAnas discors
- CanvasbackAythya valisineria
- GadwallAnas strepera
- Least BitternIxobrychus exilis
- Marsh WrenCistothorus palustris
- Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensis
- Snowy EgretEgretta thula
- American PipitAnthus rubescens
- SoraPorzana carolina
- Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolnii
- Snowy OwlBubo scandiacus
- Virginia RailRallus limicola
Plants 303
- Peach Leaf WillowSalix amygdaloides
- White Panicled Aster; Eastern Lined AsterSymphyotrichum lanceolatum var. latifolium
- Rudbeckia fulgida var. spathulataRudbeckia fulgida var. spathulata
- Shagbark HickoryCarya ovata
- Spreading SedgeCarex laxiculmis
- Blunt Broom SedgeCarex tribuloides
- Mountain SilverbellHalesia carolina
- Smooth Hedge-nettleStachys tenuifolia
- Common Cup-plantSilphium perfoliatum
- Camphor PlucheaPluchea camphorata
- Virginia Cup-plantSilphium perfoliatum var. connatum
- Heartleaf NettleUrtica chamaedryoides
Dry forests and woodlands
Birds 88
- Pine WarblerDendroica pinus
- Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostra
- Northern BobwhiteColinus virginianus
- White-winged CrossbillLoxia leucoptera
- Yellow-throated WarblerDendroica dominica
- Prairie WarblerDendroica discolor
- Black-throated Green WarblerDendroica virens
- Blackburnian WarblerDendroica fusca
- Red-breasted NuthatchSitta canadensis
- White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrys
- American Tree SparrowSpizella arborea
- Barred OwlStrix varia
Plants 192
- Eastern Winged SumacRhus copallinum var. latifolia
- American ChestnutCastanea dentata
- Godfrey's ThoroughwortEupatorium godfreyanum
- White ThoroughwortEupatorium album
- McCree's MilkpeaGalactia volubilis
- Leavenworth's SedgeCarex leavenworthii
- Southern LoosestrifeLysimachia tonsa
- Carolina LilyLilium michauxii
- Tall BellflowerCampanulastrum americanum
- Perfoliate BellwortUvularia perfoliata
- Green Pyrola, Green-flowered WintergreenPyrola chlorantha
- BeechdropsEpifagus virginiana
Forest edges and thickets
Birds 63
- Hoary RedpollCarduelis hornemanni
- House FinchCarpodacus mexicanus
- Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineus
- Wilson's WarblerWilsonia pusilla
- Field SparrowSpizella pusilla
- Barn SwallowHirundo rustica
- Henslow's SparrowAmmodramus henslowii
- Lark SparrowChondestes grammacus
- Palm WarblerDendroica palmarum
- Ring-necked PheasantPhasianus colchicus
- Savannah SparrowPasserculus sandwichensis
- Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax traillii
Plants 204
- Bristly BlackberryRubus setosus
- Rubus invisusRubus invisus
- Tall LarkspurDelphinium exaltatum
- Northeastern BindweedCalystegia sepium subsp. americana
- Canada PlumPrunus nigra
- ChokecherryPrunus virginiana var. virginiana
- Fire CherryPrunus pensylvanica
- Silky DogwoodCornus obliqua
- Giant SunflowerHelianthus giganteus
- Gray DogwoodCornus racemosa
- Buffalo CloverTrifolium reflexum
- Cutleaf GoldenrodSolidago arguta
Sources
- USGS Gap Analysis Project habitat models (2001)
- USGS GAP winter habitat model for White-throated Sparrow
- USGS Gap Analysis Project range maps (2001), modeled by watershed; migratory gives no dates
- NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0), habitat names
- US Census TIGER/Line counties
- Names follow the USGS Gap Analysis Project (2001)





























































