White-throated Sparrows are fascinating birds, and while they are not as common in Oregon as White-crowned or Golden-crowned Sparrows, they are regular and cherished uncommon migrants and winter visitors, primarily in western Oregon.

The most intriguing aspect of White-throated Sparrows, beyond their striking appearance, is their two distinct color morphs, which occur in both males and females. This means you cannot distinguish male from female based on these color patterns.

Overall Appearance (Adult Male & Female - Both Morphs):
Size and Shape: They are medium-sized sparrows, generally 6.3-7.5 inches (16-19 cm) long, with a relatively long tail and a prominent, often somewhat pointed bill.
Distinctive Throat: They have a very clear, rectangular white throat patch, sharply delineated from the gray breast. This is a key field mark for the species.
Yellow Lores: There's a small but noticeable yellow patch between the eye and the bill (the lores). This yellow is often brightest in front of the eye and may extend slightly over the eye.
Bill: The bill is typically dark gray or brownish-gray, distinguishing them from the often pale-billed White-crowned Sparrows.
Underparts: The breast is unstreaked gray, fading to whitish on the belly. The flanks may have a slight buffy wash.
Upperparts: The back is streaked with reddish-brown and black. Their wings are rufous (reddish-brown) with two distinct white wing bars.
Tail: Plain brown and relatively long.

The Two Color Morphs (Present in Both Sexes):
The head pattern is where White-throated Sparrows show their fascinating variation. Both males and females can exhibit either of two distinct head morphs:
1. White-striped Morph ("White-striped"):
Crown: Features crisp, bold black and white stripes on the crown. There's a clean white central crown stripe flanked by two stark black stripes.
Supercilium (Eyebrow): A bright white stripe above the eye, extending behind it.
Appearance: This morph generally looks brighter and more contrasty on the head.

2. Tan-striped Morph ("Tan-striped"):
Crown: The stripes on the crown are duller, consisting of brown and tan. The central crown stripe is tan or buffy, bordered by dark brown or blackish-brown stripes.
Supercilium (Eyebrow): A tan or buffy stripe above the eye.
Appearance: This morph appears more subdued and less boldly marked on the head.

Key Points Regarding Male and Female Distinction in Oregon:
Plumage: As highlighted, you cannot reliably distinguish male from female White-throated Sparrows by their plumage. Both sexes occur in roughly equal numbers for both the white-striped and tan-striped morphs.
Behavior and Genetics (Not observable in Oregon, but fascinating context):
During the breeding season (which occurs far north of Oregon), a remarkable genetic system dictates that White-throated Sparrows almost exclusively mate with a bird of the opposite color morph. So, a white-striped male will mate with a tan-striped female, and a tan-striped male will mate with a white-striped female.
These morphs are linked to distinct behavioral traits, driven by a chromosomal "supergene."
White-striped birds (both males and females) tend to be more aggressive, sing more frequently, and are more active in defending territories. White-striped males may engage in more "extra-pair copulations" (mating with females outside their pair bond).
Tan-striped birds (both males and females) tend to be more nurturing and spend more time on parental care and foraging for young.
This system ensures that offspring inherit a mix of these behavioral traits, balancing aggression/territoriality with parental care.
Immature Birds: First-year White-throated Sparrows typically resemble tan-striped adults but are often more heavily and blurrily streaked on the underparts (breast and flanks). Even the dullest young birds will still have a distinct white throat patch.