In the winter, most white-throated sparrows overwinter in the eastern United States, ranging from New England in the north to Northern Mexico in the south. Its head has tan and black stripes on top, with grey below and on the sides of the head. Adults have both tan and white stripes, as opposed to first year birds which only have tan stripes but are heavily streaked underneath. The white-throated sparrow is sexually dimorphic, meaning the male and female are somewhat different. There are small variations in the coloration between the males and females.
Male sparrows have darker stripes on the head and brighter yellow blotches.
Between the bill and the eyes, on both the male and female, there are bright yellow blotches. Its back is brown with dark streaks and its wings are also brown. The white-throated sparrow has a dark bill and pink legs. Their diet consists of seeds, fruits, and insects. Seeds come from the floor of forests and bushy clearings.