Fox sparrow
Passerella iliaca
Identification Tips:
- Length: 6.25 inches
- Conical bill with yellow lower mandible
- Very large sparrow
- Thick malar streak
- Heavy spotting below
- Extremely variable plumage across range
- Sexes similar
Eastern United States:
- Gray crown, nape and back
- Bright rusty rump and tail
- Rusty brown cheeks, malar streak, streaks on back, wings and spotting
below
Western United States:
- Dark brown to gray upperparts
- Wings and tail sometimes same color as back, sometimes browner
- Bill size very large in one race
- Spotting underneath usually very dark
Similar species:
The Fox Sparrow is much larger than other sparrows and might at first
be mistaken for a thrush but note the thick, conical bill.
Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.