Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca)

Photos by BarrytheBirder

My National Geographic Field Guide says this sparrow is highly variable, with most subspecies having having reddish rumps, tails, and reddish in wings.   They often have two-toned bills.   Underparts are heavily marked with triangular spots merging into a larger spot on the central breast.   The many sub-species are divided into 4 sub-species groups; which could even be distinct species.

The brightest group, Iliaca, and slightly duller zaboria ('Red' group) breed in the far north, from Alaska to Newfoundland and south to southern California, Nevada and Colorado.   They winter from southern B.C. to California, and from southern Kansas to New Jersey and south to the Gulf Coast in the eastern U.S.  Rockies western mountain races ("Slate-coloured" group) have gray heads, backs, plus grayish olive base to bill.

Fox Sparrows are large and uncommon (generally seen in small numbers), and usually found in dense undergrowth in woodlands and forest edges. hedgerows, thickets and second growth.  The "Slate-coloured" group is casual east of the Rockies.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder