North American field guide
Fox Sparrow
Passerella iliaca
Identification
Field notes
18 cm (7") Fairly common throughout North America. Dense brush in coniferous or mixed woodlands, chaparral.
Large sparrow and highly variable. Some western mountain birds have gray heads and back. Some birds have big thick bills. Most birds have a bright rufous rump and tail that is conspicuous when it flies. Heavy streaking on sides and breast converge into a central breast spot.
Scratches noisily on the ground.
Song: brilliant assortment of clear notes and whistles.
Watch and learn
Videos
Fox Sparrow
Credit: Larry BondFox Sparrow (Red Morph) in Maine
Credit: Wild Bird and Nature Videos by McElroy ProductionsWhere it lives
Distribution maps
Source legend · original intervals
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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence
Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.
Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant · 1 rule
These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.
Fox Sparrow
1 ruleRule 1 13 criteria · confidence 3
- What SIZE was the TAIL ?
- Medium · Long · Very Long · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the TAIL ?
- Square or slightly notched at the end · Rounded at the end · Unknown
- What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?
- None · Unknown
- What colour was the TAIL ?
- Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, brownish red, cinnamon · Unknown
- What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ?
- Streaked, mottled, spotted, or barred · Unknown
- What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?
- Streaked lengthwise (from head to tail) · Unknown
- What colour was the BREAST ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the THROAT ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
- What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?
- Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Sparrow-like