Fox Sparrow

 Many people do not pay much attention to sparrows. They are not large like pelicans or fierce like raptors. They do not have the grace of herons or the bright color of warblers. They are often hard to identify and most people do not take the time to try. Fortunately the fox sparrow is pretty easy to identify.

The fox sparrow is large, for a sparrow weighing in over one ounce which is twice as much as many of the other species of sparrows. There are 4 different subspecies that breed in northern Canada, Alaska and along the Pacific Coast. They winter in the southern United States. Here in the middle of the U.S. we usually only see them during migration. Most often they are seen on or near the ground where they are searching through the leaves foraging for insects. The bird in the first picture was photographed on April 1st. When we see them at that time of the year they are a happy sign that spring has come and summer will soon follow. the second photo was taken in mid October. When we see fox sparrow at that time of the year it is not such a happy occasion because it means that winter is right around the corner.