How to Identify a Fox Sparrow

What Does a Fox Sparrow Look Like?

Even a short visit from a fox sparrow — and that’s all we get most of the time — is a reason for birders to rejoice. These large sparrows are notable for their beautiful chestnut color (at least in the eastern U.S.). In the West, their plumage is much duller, leaning toward gray in the Rockies and most of California, and brown along the Pacific coast.

“What kind of bird is this (above)?” asks Birds & Blooms reader Brian Herrmann of Parma, Ohio.

Birding experts Kenn and Kimberly says, “This shy bird hiding among the branches is a fox sparrow— among the largest and most beautiful of our native sparrows in North America. The key to identifying the one in your photo is the mix of gray and foxy reddish brown, which is especially bright on the tail.”

Fox Sparrow Subspecies

It’s hard to make generalized statements about what a fox sparrow looks like. Brodie Cass Talbott, who works for Bird Alliance of Oregon and sees fox sparrows around Portland in winter, says, “That’s the thing that’s important to know about them—there’s four different subspecies of fox sparrows and they all look really different.”

He notes that the subspecies do have a few things in common, such as:

• They are large and chunky for sparrows.
• Their backs are generally a solid color, although the color varies.
• They have a chevron pattern across their belly. The Kaufman Field Guide refers to this as “triangular spots on underparts.”

Red Fox Sparrow

East of the Rockies, you’ll find red subspecies. This bird puts the “fox” in the fox sparrow’s name. Look for foxy reddish-brown feathers that cover the wings, tail and parts of the head. The head also features slightly lighter brown feathers and a two-toned bill that’s gray on top and orange on bottom.

Sooty Fox Sparrow

The sooty subspecies is arguably the most similar to its eastern counterpart. Brodie says, “Typically, the further west you go—once you get west of the Cascades—a lot of birds are more brown and get much darker.”

That’s true of the sooty fox sparrow, which boats chocolate brown where the red fox sparrow has rustier feathers. You may also notice that the sooty’s chest is more heavily patterned with less white. Like the red fox sparrow, the sooty generally has an orange and gray two-toned bill. You’re most likely to see them in the Pacific Northwest.

Slate-Colored Fox Sparrow

Found in the mountain west, the slate-colored fox sparrow bares a striking resemblance to the eastern red fox sparrow—just from the lower half of the wings down. Its head and back are a uniform light gray, with few distinguishing marks.

Thick-billed Fox Sparrow

As the name suggests, this fox sparrow’s bill is nearly twice the size as other common sparrow’s beaks. It’s primarily gray on its head and back and the wings and tail feathers may be slightly more brown than foxy. As with all fox sparrow subspecies, look for a chevron pattern on the belly for a reliable ID. They have a small range but can be found in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains.

Confused by the different types? Don’t be discouraged. Brodie admits that the regional differences are fairly dramatic, saying, “They might actually split these all into different species. So we might get a bunch of different fox sparrow species in the future.”

Meet the slate colored junco and other types of juncos.

Fox Sparrow Diet

These sparrows eat primarily insects, grubs and seeds. The best way to attract them to your backyard is to either keep a stocked feeder or make your yard more bug-friendly. Fox sparrows are ground foragers and will not visit the feeder itself; you’ll find them hanging out underneath. “So as a chickadee comes in and throws 15 seeds out of the feeder before finding the one that it wants, the fox sparrow is going around eating all of those,” says Brodie. Stock your feeders with millet or black-oil sunflower seeds for best results.

Birders can identify fox sparrows by their unusual way of ground foraging. They have a habit of jumping up, scratching the ground with both feet at the same time, landing and looking at the grubs or seeds they’ve uncovered. Towhees are the only other birds that tends to do this.

Feeders are a quick way to attract fox sparrows, but making your yard an insect haven may have a bigger payoff as these sparrows adore larva and overwintering bugs. Brodie recommends making a few changes to your backyard for insects, such as adding a brush pile and more native plants, as well waiting to clear plant litter until spring so insects have a place to spend winter.

Range and Habitat

If you want to see a fox sparrow—you probably live in an area where it’s possible. They are found across the United States, most often as an overwintering bird or migrant. In winter, look for them in the Southeast, the Pacific Northwest, along the coast of California, and in parts of the Southwest and Texas.

Brodie suggest searching for fox sparrows in city parks, green spaces or sometimes backyards. The key, he emphasizes, is to look in places with heavy shrubs and plant cover. Unlike some other sparrows, fox sparrows don’t tend to hang out in open spaces.

Brodie says, “They really like to hide.” In his Pacific Northwest home, the sooty fox sparrows can’t resist the rows of blackberry bushes that provide food and cover. He adds, “If you walk past one in winter, you just know there’s going to be a fox sparrow in there.”

Fox Sparrow Migration

Northern birders may only spot these birds briefly during migration. Kenn and Kimberly say, “They spend the winter mostly in the southern states and go far north into Canada for the summer nesting season.”

Fox sparrows are a common migrant in the Northeast, Midwest and Great Lakes region, and can occasionally be spotted in spring or fall on the Plains—but far less often.

They migrate in a pattern that Brodie describes as “leap frogging.” The sparrows that nest furthest north in Alaska make the longest migration south, all the way to Mexico for winter. While birds who raise their young just north of Vancouver Island, which is the southern tip of the nesting range, only fly a few miles south of the island to reach their winter grounds.

Nesting Habits

Most people will not have the honor of seeing a fox sparrow nest. In fact, despite numerous birding trips across the country and internationally, Brodie hasn’t seen one himself. He says there are two reasons for this.

The first is that, if you look at range maps, these birds nest in the least populated parts of the continent. They breed in the Canadian north and deep in the western mountains.

Brodie notes that the second reason is because they nest close to the ground. He says, “Birds that do that are often incredibly skilled at hiding their nest. For instance, song sparrows are notoriously difficult—you can see the bird go into where the nest has to be and it’s still nearly impossible to find it.”

Fox sparrows build cup-shaped nests on the ground or in low branches of small shrubs or trees. The female lays two to five eggs.

Fox Sparrow Song

Bird sounds courtesy of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology

The fox sparrow’s song usually starts with one distinct whistle followed by a quick series of trilly notes or churs. But, unsurprisingly, their song varies between region and subspecies. Brodie jokes, “If you ever hear a really weird whistled song and you have no idea what it is, it’s a fox sparrow.”

One of Brodie’s favorite camping memories was when he heard a thick-billed fox sparrow singing in the mountains of Oregon. Their call involves some mimicry, and the one he heard sounded like a mix between an olive-sided flycatcher and Cassin’s finch. They make a sharp chip noise, which Brodie describes as two quarters clicking together.

Fox sparrows can be tricky to identify, whether it’s by sounds or field marks. But Brodie says, “There’s a lot to appreciate about them, and the first step is really paying attention to them when you see them in your yard or neighborhood park.”

Next, learn how to identify a song sparrow.

About the Experts

Brodie Cass Talbott is an adult engagement manager for the Bird Alliance of Oregon. He first became interested in birds to fill the time as a raft guide but quickly became hooked. He now uses those skills to lead birding trips both locally and internationally, while inspiring birders to promote conservation.

Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman are the official bird experts for Birds & Blooms. They are the creators of the Kaufman Field Guide series and they lead birding trips all over the world.

Sources

• All About Birds – “Fox Sparrow”
• Illinois Department of Natural Resources – “Fox Sparrow”
• National Audubon Society – “Fox Sparrow”
• Kaufman Field Guide to Birds of North America
• Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation – “Fox Sparrow”