General Description: Fox Sparrows (Passerella iliaca) are large sparrows with dark colors (gray and brown), heavy streaking on the front, and a large, dark spot in the center of the chest (central spot). The back is uniformly dark. Throughout North America, Fox sparrows display a large amount of regional variation, but in our area they have a lot of gray on the head and back.

Fox sparrows can be confused with Song Sparrows. However, Fox Sparrows tend to have more red on the rump and tail, the streaks on the breast are formed of arrowhead-shaped spots, the back is uniformly dark (brown or gray, but not boldly streaked), and they have more gray on the face. Fox Sparrows can also be confused with a Hermit Thrush, but the bills are quite different.

Taxonomy: Passeriformes, Emberizidae. There are four subspecies.

Favored Habitat: Shrubby places in the woods.

Where to Find: During winter around Las Vegas, look for Fox Sparrows at Willow Springs at Red Rock Canyon NCA, at the Henderson Ponds, and the "desert marsh" along the Riverside Walk in Zion National Park. Keep an eye out elsewhere with shrub thickets.

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