White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis (Gmelin, JF, 1789) (2, 0)
Photo © Iain H Leach
STATUS
Nearctic. Monotypic.
OVERVIEW
In a review by BOURC (2010) the 1893 Yorkshire record was now found to be acceptable with impeccable credentials, relegating the 1909 record, for so long the first for Britain, as the second occurrence.
Currently (2013) of all the records there is a 76% spring passage and a smaller autumn passage from late September.
RECORDS
1). 1893 Yorkshire Holderness House, Hull, adult male, 13th February.
(J. Cordeaux, Naturalist 19: 113-114; J. Cordeaux, Zoologist 1893: 149-150; J. Cordeaux, Zoologist 1895: 59; W. B. Alexander & R. S. R. Fitter, British Birds 48: 14; BOURC (2011), Ibis 153: 229).
History John Cordeaux of Eaton Hall, Retford (1893) in the new series of The Naturalist, Vol. XIX. pp. 113-114, dated 28th February, 1893, and in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. XVII. pp. 149-150, says: 'At the commencement of this year Mr. G. W. Jalland, of Holderness House, near Hull, a practical and observant naturalist, saw amongst the birds he was in the habit of feeding on his lawn, one with which he was not acquainted, and which he suspected might be a wanderer from some distant part of the world.
The bird remained about the grounds for six weeks, and its identity not having been determined, was shot on February 13th, and sent in the flesh to Mr. P. Loten, of Easington.
I am indebted to Mr. Hewetson, of Leeds, for a very full description and excellent and correct water-colour of the bird, and from these I was able to identify it as a fine example of this American Bunting (Zonotrichia albicollis Bonap.), and presumably a mature male in winter plumage.
Subsequently, on February 25th, I had the opportunity of examining the bird at Mr. Loten's house, at Easington, and verifying my previous supposition. The drawing was also sent by Mr. Hewetson to Professor Newton, who says in reply that he thinks there can be no doubt about the accurate determination as Zonotrichia albicollis.
There are two almost black stripes on the crown separated by a median one of pale buff or dirty white. A broad superciliary stripe from the base of the mandible to the occiput, bright yellow as far as the middle of the eye, and then pale buff. A broad dark patch on the side of the head enclosed between dark lines, one of these running through the region of the eye, the other forming the rictal streak. Throat a smoky, silky white, and sharply defined against the bluish-grey of sides of head and breast. This is margined with a narrow black maxillary line. Edge of wing bright yellow, axillaries also yellow. The whole of the breast and flanks are marked with indistinct and very fine horizontal streaks, visible only in some lights. Back and scapularies rufous brown, streaked with darker; wings extend little beyond root of tail; tail rather long, slightly rounded, dark olive brown; two narrow white bands across wing coverts; legs and edges of mandibles flesh colour. Length 7 inches.
The White-throated Bunting has occurred twice before in Great Britain, once on the Aberdeenshire coast in 1867, and also more recently at Brighton. Zonotrichia leucophrys, the White-crowned Bunting, a closely allied species, is known to visit South Greenland sparingly in the spring, where it probably breeds.'
J. Cordeaux (1895) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. XIX. p. 57, adds this record to his Humber district Fauna.
Admitted nationally as the first for Britain (BOURC (2011) Ibis 153: 229).
2). 1909 Outer Hebrides Eilean Mor, Flannan Isles, adult male, shot, 18th May, now at National Museums of Scotland (NMSZ 1934.61.1876).
(F. Smalley, Annals of Scottish Natural History 1909: 246-247; Eds., British Birds 3: 204; E. V. Baxter & L. J. Rintoul, Annals of Scottish Natural History 1910: 135; Clarke, 1912; H. G. Alexander & R. S. R. Fitter, British Birds 48: 14; E. V. Baxter, Scottish Naturalist 69: 39; BOU (1960) Ibis 102: 630; Eds., British Birds 53: 97-98; Thom, 1986).
History Fred Smalley of Silverdale, Lancashire (1909) in the Annals of Scottish Natural History, Vol. XVIII. pp. 246-247, says: 'On the 18th of May 1909 a male Zonotrichia albicollis was shot about noon, beside the lighthouse on Eilean Mor, Flannan Islands, and was sent to me in the flesh.'
[This American species has occurred on several occasions in the British Islands (in Scotland in Aberdeenshire), but it has always been a moot point whether this, and other Nearctic Passeres, have not had an assisted passage from the New World. It may be pointed out, however, that it has a somewhat high northern range, since it is found as far north as Labrador and the Fur countries, and thus it might reach our shore via Greenland and Iceland - not a phenomenal passage. - Eds.]
In an Editorial (1909) in British Birds, Vol. III. p. 204, he says: 'A male of the White-throated Sparrow or Bunting (Zonotrichia albicollis), an American species, was shot on May 18th, 1909, on Eilean Mor, Flannan Islands (F. Smalley, Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist., 1909, p. 246).
This species has occurred previously at Aberdeen, as well as in Holderness, Yorks., and near Brighton, but it is most probable to suppose that all these birds escaped from ships coming from America.'
Admitted by E. V. Baxter & L. J. Rintoul (1910) in the Annals of Scottish Natural History, Vol. XIX. p. 135, under 'Report on Scottish Ornithology, 1909'.
Clarke (1912 (2): 265-266) under 'The Flannan Isles', says: 'The following migratory birds appeared at Eilean Mor during 1901-1911....Further, p. 269, Clarke says: 'White-throated Sparrow - An adult male of this American bunting was shot near the lighthouse on 18th May 1909. The date is perhaps, not in favour of its having arrived in the British Isles unassisted.'
Admitted nationally in the Third Report as the first for Britain (BOURC (1960) Ibis 102: 630).
NOT PROVEN
0). 1867 North-east Scotland Near Broad Hill, Aberdeen, obtained, 17th August, now at Glasgow Museums Resource Centre (GLAMG.Z.1880.122.iy).
(W. C. Angus, Proceedings of the Natural History Society of Glasgow 1: 209-211; W. C. Angus, Zoologist 1869: 1547-1549; Anon., Proceedings of the Zoological Society 1870: 52; Gray, 1871; H. M. Drummond Hay, Scottish Naturalist 8: 361; W. B. Alexander & R. S. R. Fitter, British Birds 48: 14; K. Williamson & C. E. Palmar, British Birds 48: 189-190; E. V. Baxter, Scottish Naturalist 69: 39).
[BOU, 1883; Sim, 1903; BOURC (1960), Ibis 102: 630; Not in BOU, 1971; C. J. McInerny, Scottish Birds 30: 27-29].
History W. C. Angus (1868) in the Proceedings of the Natural History Society of Glasgow, Vol. I. pp. 209-211 and reprinted (1869) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. IV. pp. 1547-1549, says: 'I have much pleasure in adding this interesting North American species to the fauna of Europe.
The bird which I send for exhibition, along with this notice, was shot by Mr. Mitchell, August 17th, 1867, near the Broad Hill, on the Links of Aberdeen. It was put into my hands immediately after being procured, and I made a careful examination of the specimen before it was skinned.
The following description and measurements of the bird were then taken: - Length, six inches and a half; length of tail, about three inches; wing, from carpus, nearly three inches; wings, when closed, reaching to the extremity of the tail-coverts; irides hazel. Bill robust: mandibles compressed at the tips, the upper, which is longest, being hooked at the tip and darker in colour. From the nostril to the back of the head there is a distinct line, which is of a rich yellow in front of the eye and a dull white behind it. Feathers on the crown of the head reddish brown at the base, and rich brownish black at the tips, divided by a medial whitish line; feathers on the shoulders rich bay at the base and tipped with reddish brown, those on the back having brighter tints and a longitudinal spot of black on the tips. Rump olive-brown; chin white; breast dusky; under parts dirty white; feathers on the sides somewhat darker along their shafts. Quills dusky; outer webs margined with white. First quill short; third, fourth and fifth, about equal, and longest in the wing. First and sixth about equal in length; second, third, fourth and fifth quills abruptly cut away on the outer webs. Secondaries emarginate, edged with ferruginous on the outer webs. A double bar on the wings is formed by the white tips of the greater and lesser wing-coverts, the line on the smaller coverts being more conspicuous; the first feather being yellow, like the lower surface of the wing shoulder. Tail dusky, straight, consisting of twelve feathers, the outer webs being broad at the base, while the inner webs are broad at the points. Tarsus seven-eighths of an inch long; legs and toes robust; claws convex and sharp. Sex, female. The stomach contained grass, sand, seeds and insects.
Variation. - On comparing the specimen described above with a male from New Brunswick, forwarded to me by the Society's secretary, and with other specimens obligingly lent to me by Professor Nicol of Marischal College, I find a slight difference in the bills - the sinus of the upper mandible being more or less distinct. The colours of the male in the New Brunswick specimen are not nearly so bright as those of the specimens belonging to the College Museum here, the latter being, moreover, distinguished by having the whole throat mapped off by distinct straight lines. The tail-feathers in all the specimens are more or less worn, the central feathers, which are wiry to the base, having, in some instances, merely the shafts remaining.
According to Wilson, this is the largest and handsomest of the American sparrows, and is common from Connecticut to Savannah, particularly in the neighbourhood of the Roanoke river, and in the rice plantations. In summer they retire inland and further north to breed. They remain in flocks during winter, preferring the borders of swampy thickets, creeks, and mill-ponds, skirted with alder-bushes and rank weeds, the seeds of which form their principal food.
Early in spring they have a few remarkably sweet and clear notes, which they utter a little after sunrise. "About the 20th of April", adds Wilson, "they disappear, and we see no more of them till the beginning or second week of October".
Pennant gives Pennsylvania, New York, and Newfoundland as its habitat.
I am much indebted to Mr. Mitchell for kindly presenting me with this specimen, which has now been added to my collection. From its general resemblance to some of the female buntings, the bird might have, in less enthusiastic hands, altogether escaped observation. When shot it was perched on the top of a whin bush, and attracted Mr. Mitchell's attention by its note, and the manner of flirting its tail. I have only to add that the bird bore no traces of having been in confinement, the wings, tail and all the lower plumage being quite clean.'
Anon. (1870) in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society, p. 52, at the meeting held on 27th January 1870, says: 'In laying before the Meeting a skin of the North-American Zonotrichia albicollis, which had been shot near Aberdeen on the 17th of August 1867 (Proceedings of the Natural History Society of Glasgow, Vol. I. part 1, p. 209, plate), and sent for exhibition by Mr. W. C. Angus of that town.
Professor Newton called attention to the practice of many, or most, ornithologists in this country, who are prone to give the name of "British birds" to all such species as occur from time to time in the United Kingdom. This practice he deemed to be very injudicious, as it tended to confound every correct notion as to the geographical distribution of species - one of the most important subjects with which naturalists had to deal.
Without venturing at present to draw a positive line of demarcation, he thought that at any rate those species of birds which confessedly do not breed within the limits of the zoo-geographical region in which the British islands he should on no account be termed "British", and that it should be a matter for future deliberation how far the same title might properly be given even to species which certainly do breed within the same limits.
Speaking accurately, the term "British" should be restricted to those species of birds which for a longer or shorter period of the year actually inhabit the British islands. But Prof. Newton was inclined to think that this rule might be relaxed in the case of certain European or even North-Asiatic species which, though apparently only chance stragglers, might reasonably be regarded, in the absence of more complete observations, as occurring much oftener without attracting attention; and added that it was quite possible that some of these, which had been noticed the most frequently, were in fact regular annual visitors to this country.'
Gray (1871: 138) says: 'A female specimen of this North American bird was shot near the Broadhill, on Aberdeen Links, by Alex. Mitchell, on the 17th August, 1867, and forwarded to me a few weeks afterwards by Mr. Angus, to whom Mr. Mitchell had presented the bird.
In March, 1868, a notice of the occurrence was communicated by Mr. Angus to the Natural History Society of Glasgow, and a full description of the plumage, with other details, was afterwards published in the proceedings of that Society, accompanied by a plate containing two figures, which Mr. Sinclair had drawn for this work. It is quite possible that, from its general resemblance to some of the female buntings, this bird may have hitherto passed unnoticed in the eastern districts of Scotland.
Mr. Mitchell was attracted, in this instance, to the movements of the bird as it sat perched on a whin-bush jerking its tail, but a less observant eye might have failed to remark the peculiarity. It may be well, therefore, for scientific collectors residing in the north-eastern counties to look out for the species in autumn, when stragglers are likely to arrive on our shores.
We know that it is strictly a winter visitant to the southern States of America, appearing there suddenly in considerable flocks; there is therefore nothing inconsistent in the surmise that straggling parties may in the course of their flight be driven eastwards from Newfoundland to this country.'
Not admitted nationally in their first List of British Birds (BOU 1883).
H. M. Drummond Hay (1885-86) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. VIII. p. 361, in the Report of the East of Scotland Union, admits this record. However, Sim (1903: 103) placed the record in square brackets.
K. Williamson and C. E. Palmer (1955) in British Birds, Vol. XLVIII. pp. 189-190, In a Letter, say: 'Sirs, - Commenting on the four British-taken examples of the White-throated Sparrow in their excellent and timely paper "American land-birds in western Europe" (antea, pp. 1-14), Messrs. W. B. Alexander and R. S. R. Fitter state: "All these have been written off as escaped cage-birds, but at least the last may reasonably be supposed to be a normal drift-migrant".
This is the bird which occurred on the Flannans in May 1909. They will be pleased to know that the first of the four birds can also make a strong bid for inclusion in this category.
Going through the collection of skins kept in the Glasgow Museum and Art Gallery, Kelvingrove, on 9th February 1955, we came across a White-throated Sparrow bearing a label inscribed with the catalogue reference "80-122 iy" and the remark: "v. P. Glasgow Nat. Hist. Soc. Pt. i.".
Reference to the catalogue, which gave the provenance of the specimen as "New Broad Hill Aberdeen", and to Proc. Nat. Hist. Soc. Glasgow (1869), Vol. I. pp. 209-211 (W. C. Angus, "Notice of the occurrence of the White-throated Sparrow in Aberdeenshire"), showed that this is the female bird which was shot by a Mr. Mitchell, on top of a furze-spray near the Broad Hill on the Links of Aberdeen on 17th August 1867.
It was given by Mr. Mitchell to Mr. Angus, from whom it passed to Dr. Dewar of Glasgow, and later to Mr. A. B. Stewart, with whose collection it came to Glasgow Museum.
The specimen does not bear the original label, and where these old skins are involved there is always the possibility of substitution having occurred, but we consider that in the present case this can be discounted. It is in freshly-moulted autumn plumage, as one would expect with a wild bird at this date, and even after 88 years in skin-cabinets shows not the slightest sign of abrasion, the tips and fringes of remiges and rectrices being perfect. The claws show no signs of wear.
We do not believe that a bird in such an immaculate state of plumage can have been an escaped cage-bird as The Handbook (Vol. I. p. 153) suggests was probably the case.'
BOURC (1960) in The Ibis, Vol. CII. p. 630, in the Third Records Committee Report, say: '...we have considered but are not prepared to accept this record.'
C. J. McInerny (2010) states that this specimen in the Kelvingrove Museum and is not generally accepted due to its association with the taxidermist Alexander Mitchell, who in 1867, also, had two Spotted Sandpipers and a Pectoral Sandpiper as well.
0). 1872 Sussex Beven Dean, near Brighton, caught, 22nd March.
(Anon., Proceedings of the Zoological Society 1872: 681).
[Yarrell, 1871-85; BOU, 1883; Walpole-Bond, 1938; W. B. Alexander & R. S. R. Fitter, British Birds 48: 14; Not in BOU, 1971].
History Anon. (1872) in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society, p. 681, at a meeting held on 4th June 1872, says: 'Mr. G. Dawson Rowley, F.Z.S., exhibited a specimen of the North American Zonotrichia albicollis, which had been taken alive in a clapnet on the 22nd of March, 1872, at Beven Dean, near Brighton, by a man catching Yellow-hammers (Emberiza citrinella), with which the Zonotrichia was in company. One previous occurrence of this species in Great Britain had been already recorded in the Society's Proceedings for 1870 (p. 52).'
Alfred Newton (1871-85 (2): 67, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, in a footnote, says: 'The occurrence in Great Britain of two examples of the North American White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) - the one near Aberdeen, August 17th, 1867, the other near Brighton, March 22nd, 1872 - has been recorded by Mr. Angus (Proc. N. H. Soc. Glasg., I. p. 209) and Mr. Rowley (Proc. Zool. Soc., 1872, p. 681) respectively.
The genus to which this species belongs is allied to if not one of the true Emberizidae, but as a land-bird of the New World it does not come within the scope of this book.'
Not admitted in their first List of British Birds (BOU 1883).
Not accepted locally as the record was placed in square brackets (Walpole-Bond 1938 (1): 176).
W. B. Alexander & R. S. R. Fitter (1955) in British Birds, Vol. XLVIII. p. 14, say: 'It has been written off as an escaped cage bird.' And, is still not admitted (BOU 1971).
0). 1957 At sea Sea area Sole, two on board Statendam, 4th October, when in sight of British Isles.
(R. MacArthur & P. Klopfer, British Birds 51: 358).
[R. MacArthur & P. Klopfer, British Birds 51: 358].
History R. MacArthur & P. Klopfer (1958) in British Birds, Vol. LI. p. 358, say: 'Among the passengers aboard the Holland-America Line ship Statendam which left New York City on 27th September 1957 and arrived in Southampton on 4th October 1957, were two White-throated Sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis), one Black-throated Green Warbler (Dendroica virens), one Pine Warbler (D. pinus) and one Tennessee Warbler (Vermivora peregrina).
The two White-throated Sparrows were fed with crumbs by passengers and stewards, and were seen to be alive and apparently healthy on the day when the ship came into sight of the British Isles. The insectivorous warblers were observed to hawk after small flies during the first three days of passage, but were then seen no more: it is conceivable that a faster ship, such as one of the Queens or the United States, would have allowed these birds to arrive safely also.'
Comment Known to have been fed crumbs by passengers and stewards. Record not submitted. Not acceptable.
