Although White-throated Sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis ) are not thought to be negatively impacted by forest harvesting, significant range-wide declines have been documented in recent decades. I conducted a detailed, population-level study of this species in a recently harvested landscape near Calling Lake, Alberta. My results suggest territory density provides a poor measure of habitat quality for this species. Comparisons between forest/clearcut edges, 5-6 year old clearcuts, and interior forests, using various reproductive indices, suggest habitat quality was highest in interior forest, and lowest in recent clearcuts. Breeding chronology, site fidelity, and dispersal were not good measures of habitat quality. My results emphasise the need to collect habitat quality data, beyond simple measures of density. Short-term studies not measuring habitat quality should be carefully evaluated prior to deciding on management actions.