Fox Sparrow

March 16, 2017
Fox Sparrow
Passerella iliaca

by Ben Skaught
Sightings of the Fox Sparrow are on the increase in Connecticut as it begins its migration from southern parts of the U.S. to northern Canada and Alaska. Typically at this time of year Fox Sparrows can be found scratching for food among the leaf litter. But there’s not much leaf litter to be found this week, so Fox Sparrows have been reported under snowy feeders in Glastonbury, Ellington, West Hartford, Wethersfield, Bethel, and Harwinton. In other words, pretty much everywhere.

So if you see a large sparrow – roughly 6 1/2 to 7 inches – picking up seeds under your feeder, look closely.

What it looks like: The Fox Sparrows we see in Connecticut are generally rust-brown above with a mix of rust and gray on the head, and heavy brownish splotches on the flanks and the center of the chest. They do, however, vary greatly depending upon their habitat. “Red” Fox Sparrows are common in the boreal forests of northern North America, “Slate-colored” Fox Sparrows in the mountains of the Interior West, “thick billed” Fox Sparrows in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains and “Sooty” Fox Sparrows along the Pacific Coast.

What to look for: When the ground isn’t snow-covered, Fox Sparrows can be seen spending much of their time hopping on the ground scratching through leaf litter foraging for insects and seeds. This is often referred to as a “double-scratch” involving a hop forward and an immediate hop back during which they scratch both feet backwards through the leaf litter.

Fox Sparrows are larger than either the Song Sparrow or the Savannah Sparrow. Song Sparrows do not habitually scratch in the leaf litter to find food, as Fox Sparrows do. Savannah Sparrows are always paler and smaller than Fox Sparrows, and are usually found in open rather than brushy habitats.

Fox Sparrows rarely make long flights during their day-to-day activities. Within one day of arriving on the breeding grounds they establish territories of up to 2 1/2 acres in size, and they pair off with mates within a week. Outside of the breeding season, they usually spend their time alone or in small groups, and often associate with other sparrow species.

Photo by Alan D. Wilson/Carolinabirds.org