White-throated Sparrow
To me White-throated Sparrows (along with Dark-eyed Juncos) are the quintessential winter birds in our region. Their arrival from the far-north announced the beginning of the cold months, which, without their whistling "old-sam-peabody" songs I don't know how I can get through; their departure in early spring draws the curtain for the appearance of neotropical migrants. (Click on each image to see the high-resolution version)