Sparrows, Buntings

Fox Sparrow, Passerella iliaca

Family Emberizidae (Sparrows, Buntings)

Size: 7"

Season: Year-round

Habitat: Dense thickets in woodland and riparian areas

Of the four varieties of the large, plump, ground-dwelling fox sparrow that occur in North America, the “red” or “taiga” group is the only type found in New England. It is streaked reddish brown and gray above with thin, white wing bars, has a brown tail, and is white below with extensive brown spotting on the breast and sides, sometimes meeting in a heavy blotch at the center of the breast. The head is gray with a reddish crown and auriculars, and the bill is orangey or grayish with a dark line on the top edge. Sexes are similar. Fox sparrows forage on the ground and in thickets for seeds and insects, often scratching back with both feet to uncover food. The voice is a loud, clear collection of rising and falling musical notes. The adult “red” form is illustrated.