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fox sparrow

bird
Also known as: Passerella iliaca

Quick Summary

The fox sparrow (Passerella iliaca) is a large American sparrow characterized by rich chestnut coloring above and streaking below. Sparrows, in general, are small, primarily seed-eating birds with conical bills. The term "sparrow" is most commonly associated with birds in the Old World family Passeridae, such as the house sparrow, but also includes many New World birds from the family Emberizidae.12

The fox sparrow is listed among the Emberizidae family, alongside other North American sparrows like the chipping sparrow, savanna sparrow, song sparrow, white-crowned sparrow, and white-throated sparrow. These Emberizidae sparrows are diverse, with some being trim and small, others finely streaked, and some, like the fox sparrow, described as heavily streaked skulkers found in woodlands.2

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