Fox sparrow
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Passerella iliaca
Life Span
10.5 years
Weight
26.9-49
0.9-1.7
goz
g oz 
Length
15-19
5.9-7.5
cminch
cm inch 
Wingspan
26.7-29.9
10.5-11.8
cminch
cm inch 

The fox sparrow (Passerella iliaca ) is a large New World sparrow. It is the only member of the genus Passerella, although some authors split the species into four (see below).

Appearance

Adults are among the largest sparrows, heavily spotted and streaked underneath. All feature a messy central breast spot though it is less noticeable on the thick billed and slate-colored varieties. Plumage varies markedly from one group to another.

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Measurements:

  • Length: 5.9-7.5 in (15-19 cm)
  • Weight: 0.9-1.6 oz (26-44 g)
  • Wingspan: 10.5-11.4 in (26.7-29 cm)

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Distribution

Geography

Fox sparrow habitat map

Climate zones

Fox sparrow habitat map
Fox sparrow
Public Domain Dedication (CC0)

Habits and Lifestyle

These birds forage by scratching the ground, which makes them vulnerable to cats and other predators, though they are generally common. Fox sparrows migrate on the west coast of the United States.

Seasonal behavior
Bird's call

Diet and Nutrition

They mainly eat seeds and insects, as well as some berries. Coastal fox sparrows may also eat crustaceans.

Mating Habits

MATING BEHAVIOR
INDEPENDENT AGE
10 days

Fox sparrows nest in wooded areas across northern Canada and western North America from Alaska to California. They nest either in a sheltered location on the ground or low in trees or shrubs. A nest typically contains two to five pale green to greenish white eggs speckled with reddish brown.

Population

Coloring Pages

References

1. Fox sparrow Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_sparrow
2. Fox sparrow on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/103779110/94696453
3. Xeno-canto bird call - https://xeno-canto.org/694872

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