The State of White-throated Sparrows
Regionally: Steeply declining
The mean (thick, dark brown line) annual estimate of White-throated Sparrow abundance—calculated as the annual sum of estimated White-throated Sparrow within the local area (a 4-hectare circle) surrounding all 791 Mountain Birdwatch sampling stations. The lighter vertical bars represent the 95% Bayesian credible interval (a measure of the uncertainty around the abundance estimates).
White-throated Sparrow numbers have likely been declining throughout our region for at least the last half-century. Mountain Birdwatch data indicate a steep overall population decline (-4.95% per year, 95% credible interval = -5.66% to -4.21%) in the mountains of our region; this trend equates to a 45.62% decline (95% credible interval = 50.28% to 40.31%) between 2010 and 2022. These declines are prevalent throughout the region, but the steepest and most dramatic declines (-13.44% per year, 95% credible interval = -16.92% to -9.24%) were observed in the Catskills of New York (see table below). At those rates of decline, White-throated Sparrow could be absent as a breeding species in the Catskills by 2060.
Mean annual population trends and population change (with 95% Bayesian credible intervals [CRI]) for White-throated Sparrow from 2010 through 2022. A red dot
indicates strong evidence for a negative trend.
| Region | Mean annual trend (%) | Trend 95% CRI | Probability of decrease | Probability of increase | Population change (%) 2010-2021 | Population change (95% CRI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All regions | -4.95 | (-5.66, -4.21) | >0.99 | <0.01 | -45.62 | (-50.28, -40.31) |
| New York (state) | -5.54 | (-6.77, -4.31) | >0.99 | <0.01 | -49.53 | (-56.86, -41.02) |
| New York (Catskills) | -13.44 | (-16.92, -9.24) | >0.99 | <0.01 | -82.32 | (-89.19, -68.75) |
| New York (Adirondacks) | -5.07 | (-6.31, -3.81) | >0.99 | <0.01 | -46.46 | (-54.27, -37.25) |
| Vermont | -4.14 | (-5.30, -2.94) | >0.99 | <0.01 | -39.76 | (-47.95, -30.13) |
| New Hampshire | -5.91 | (-6.97, -4.87) | >0.99 | <0.01 | -51.87 | (-57.98, -45.06) |
| Maine | -4.38 | (-5.31, -3.36) | >0.99 | <0.01 | -41.57 | (-48.07, -33.63) |
Globally: Declining
With a global population of ~140 million, the White-throated Sparrow remains an abundant species. However, USGS Breeding Bird Survey data estimate that this species’ population size has declined by 30% across North America over the last half century. The USGS Breeding Bird Survey data indicate a broad, long-term decline for White-throated Sparrows in the Eastern U.S. and Eastern Canada (where this species is most numerous), and a stable or increasing population trend for this species in the Western U.S. and Western Canada.
