Fox Sparrow

Fox Sparrow, red form

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1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Cool Facts
6. Full detailed species account

A large, boldly striped sparrow of scrubby boreal forest and mountain chaparral, the Fox Sparrow is most familiar as a migrant or wintering bird. Its vigorous "double-scratching," kicking backward in ground litter with both feet to uncover food, often draws attention to its presence under a bird feeder.

Description

• Large sparrow, small songbird.
• Heavily streaked chest.
• Rusty tail.
• Messy spot in center of chest.

Sex Differences

Sexes look alike.

Sound

Song a series of clear musical notes and sliding whistles.

Conservation Status

Populations appear stable.

Other Names

Bruant fauve (French)
Chingolo zorruno (Spanish)

Cool Facts

• The Fox Sparrow comes in four different forms, sometimes considered separate species. The red or eastern form has reddish streaks on chest and back, a rufous cap, and a gray face. It breeds across the boreal forest and winters in the southeastern United States. The sooty form is dark brown all over. It breeds along the Pacific Coast from the Olympic Peninsula northward to the Aleutian Islands, and winters from Alaska to California. The slate-colored form has a gray back and reddish wings, as well as a longer, reddish tail. It breeds from central British Columbia to Nevada and Colorado, and winters in the arid Southwest. The large-billed form has a gray back, reddish wings and tail, and a very thick bill. It breeds from central Oregon southward through California, and winters in California.

Sources used to construct this page:

Weckstein, J. D., D. E. Kroodsma, and R. C. Faucett. 2002. Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca). In The Birds of North America, No. 715 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.