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.