whitethroated

Whitethroated (often hyphenated as white-throated) is a descriptive term used in the common names of several bird species that possess a white or pale throat patch. It is not a taxonomic group of its own; rather, it identifies a plumage feature that can aid field identification.

In English, the form is usually hyphenated when used as a compound modifier before the noun; some sources treat the term as a single word in the actual common name. The usage varies across regions and over time as taxonomic classifications change.

Notable examples include the white-throated sparrow, a North American species with a white throat and a striped head; and the common whitethroat, a European and Asian warbler-like species with a pale throat. Other regional names also employ the element when describing birds with white throats, reflecting local traditions in bird naming.

Because common names are not standardized internationally, the same descriptor can refer to different species in different places. When precise identification is required, scientists rely on scientific names and detailed plumage descriptions rather than common names alone.

See also: Whitethroat, White-throat, Plumage coloration in birds.