Fox Sparrow

Fox Sparrow (Red), Passerella iliaca

Fox Sparrows are large, splotched sparrows which breed in the northwestern portions of North America and winter in the southeastern states. They typically are a rich red hue, but there is great regional variation with four main categories: red, slate, sooty, and thick-billed. Fox sparrows prefer to breed in remote areas where they sing all hours of the day and in most weather. When fox sparrows are spotted, it is often kicking away leaf litter searching for seeds and insects, especially in winter months near bird feeders.

Fox sparrow in search of seed within the leaf litter.

During breeding season, the diet of fox sparrows consists mainly of insects while during other seasons it is mostly grasses and seeds. In coastal areas, they will also consume tiny crustaceans. They breed in thickets, but each variation has a preference of vegetation. The red variety prefers scrubby woods and forest edges, the sooty variety prefers deciduous streamside thickets, the slate variety prefers dense riparian thickets, and the thick-billed variety prefers brushy fields at high elevations. Fox sparrows are monogamous and solitary while breeding, and they may breed up to twice a year. Generally the males remain hidden while singing to declare territory near the nest.