The White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) is one of the few sparrows that I can reliably identify, thanks to its distinctive markings. I love the little white “goatee” and the touch of bright yellow near its eyes.
Like most sparrows, White-throated Sparrows seem to spend a lot of time poking about in the underbrush, where they are hard to see. During this past week, when the ground has been covered with snow, I’ve managed to get some close-up shots of them in relatively exposed positions.
I really like the way that the green vine provides an organic framing element in the first image. The sparrow in the second image was awash with bright light as it perched on a rotten stump at Huntley Meadows Park. The details of the stump were blown away, but the bird itself seems to have been properly exposed (and the background is wonderful).
Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Beautiful capture!
Your shots are really amazing, the detail in both images is really spectacular.
Thanks, Charlie, for your continuous support and encouragement.
You’re a master of your art, Mike. Add that your writing is an eloquent frame.
Thanks, Bonnie. Although I originally intended to use my blog merely as an outlet to display my photos, I’ve come to really enjoy expressing myself creatively in my writing too.
I don’t believe I’ve ever seen this bird, and I’m with you in liking the photo with the vine. It’s delightful.
Thanks. We have lots of different sparrow and I used to lump them all together. Now that I am taking so many photos, I have learned to look more closely at the individual differences–the diversity is amazing.
Nice!