Quantcast

Fox Sparrow

Passerella iliacaOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Sparrows (Emberizidae)

Fox Sparrow Portrait
  Copyright 2002-2007 Whatbird.com
Click here for licensing information Splitbar

General

Fox Sparrow: Large, chubby sparrow that varies from dark brown or gray-brown in the west to rich rufous in the east; upperparts may be so dark that back pattern is difficult to discern. Underparts are heavily streaked, converging at midbreast into a large, dark spot. Tail is slightly notched and tinged rust-brown. Heavy bill has dark upper mandible and yellow lower mandible. Sexes are similar.

Range and Habitat

Fox Sparrow: Breeds from the Aleutians and mainland Alaska east to northern Quebec and Maritimes, and south to southern California and Colorado. Preferred habitats include thickets and edges of coniferous, mixed, or second-growth forests or chaparral.

Listen to Call

Voice Text

"churrs", "chink"

Interesting Facts

  • The Fox Sparrow is much larger than other sparrows.
  • They scratch in leaves for insects and seeds and often make so much noise that they sound like a much larger animal.
  • Adults are known to perform a broken-wing display to lure potential threats away from the nest.
  • A group of Fox Sparrows are collectively known as a "den", "flock", and "slyness" of sparrows.


Author

Gary Owen Dick

Splitbar
Range Map for Fox Sparrow
.
Bird database and its related content, illustrations and media is Copyright © 2002 - 2007  Whatbird.com
All rights reserved. No part of this web site may be reproduced without written permission from Mitch Waite Group.
 Privacy Policy.
Percevia® Registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.
Family
Species Passerella iliaca
Length6.75 - 7.5 Inches
Wingspan11.125 Inches

Fox Sparrow

Fox Sparrow: Large sparrow, varies from dark or gray-brown in the west, rufous in the east; upperparts may be so dark that back pattern is hard to see. Heavily streaked upperparts, converging at midbreast into a large, dark spot. Rust-brown tail. Bill has dark upper mandible, yellow lower mandible.

● Song: "churrs", "chink"

● Foraging & Feeding: Fox Sparrow: Diet consists of seeds, fruits, berries, insects, spiders, millipedes, and small snails. Forages by double-scratching on the ground and digging small holes by kicking backwards with claws and feet.

● Breeding & nesting: Fox Sparrow: Two to five pale green eggs, marked with red brown, are laid in a thick-walled cup of leaves, grass, and moss, and concealed in vegetation on or near the ground. Incubation ranges from 12 to 14 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: Fox Sparrow: Hermit Thrush has a red-brown tail, slender bill, and lacks streaks on back and large central breast spot.

Flight Pattern

Short flights wih rapid wing beats.
Fox Sparrow Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Fox Sparrow: Breeds from the Aleutians and mainland Alaska east to northern Quebec and Maritimes, and south to southern California and Colorado. Preferred habitats include thickets and edges of coniferous, mixed, or second-growth forests or chaparral.
BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester
PopulationUncommon to fairly common
MigrationMigratory
Weight1.1 Ounces