White-throated Sparrows in Maine
When white-throated sparrows are present in Maine, when they nest, which native Maine plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3b–6b yard.
- Status in Maine
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- June–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3b–6b
When to expect white-throated sparrows in Maine
White-throated Sparrows live in Maine all year. Long, snowy winters; boreal finches and Pine Grosbeaks irrupt south in poor cone years. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward weed seeds, sumac and dogwood fruit.
Humid continental with a long, rocky Atlantic coast and extensive northern spruce-fir forest.
Nesting in Maine
Across Maine, white-throated sparrows typically nest from June–July. Nest site: cup on or near the ground in forest openings and bogs. Females lay 3–5 eggs, incubate for 11–14 days, and young leave the nest after 7–12 days.
Cool, short summers; many songbirds do not begin nesting until late May.
- White-throated Sparrows don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as eastern red cedar, serviceberry, winterberry for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Maine plants that attract white-throated sparrows
Of the regional native plants we track for Maine, these 8 provide food or cover white-throated sparrows use:
Dense evergreen roost cover and bluish 'berries' eaten through winter.
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Deciduous holly holding red fruit into mid-winter.
Fruit clusters persist all winter as emergency food.
Red fruit heads hang on through winter.
Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Blue-black fall fruit and dense nesting cover.
Feeding white-throated sparrows through the Maine year
White-throats scratch under feeders near thickets; brush piles hold them all winter.
- Best foods: Millet, Hulled sunflower, Cracked corn.
- In Maine's winter: Long, snowy winters; boreal finches and Pine Grosbeaks irrupt south in poor cone years.
Full diet breakdown for white-throated sparrows · Best feeder for white-throated sparrows
Frequently asked
Are white-throated sparrows in Maine year-round?
Yes. White-throated Sparrows are year-round residents in Maine.
When do white-throated sparrows nest in Maine?
Nesting in Maine typically runs June–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 3–5 eggs, incubated for 11–14 days.
What native plants attract white-throated sparrows in Maine?
Eastern red cedar, Serviceberry, Winterberry, Staghorn sumac, Smooth sumac, Black cherry, American elderberry, Arrowwood viburnum are native plants in Maine that provide food or cover for white-throated sparrows.
White-throated Sparrows in other regions
Other backyard birds in Maine
Sources
- White-throated Sparrow — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- White-throated Sparrow life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- White-throated Sparrow — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Maine
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.