Fauna Flora Photography

Fox Sparrow Passerella iliaca

A large sparrow rarely seen around Montreal. The bird feeds from the ground and builds nest on the ground or low in bushes and trees.

Specs

Length18-22cm
Weight30-40g
Wingspan25-30cm

Common Names

GermanFuchsammer
EnglishFox Sparrow
FrenchBruant fauve
SpanishChingolo zorruno

Taxonomy

OrderPasseriformes
FamilyPasserellidae
SpeciesPasserella iliaca

How to Identify

Fox sparrows have a grey, brown, white pattern. Specific for this species are the grey eyebrows and brown, grey stripes on the head.

Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) - Parc du réservoir Beaudet - 2018-11-04

Where and When to Spot

Although stated to be common bird, so far, I saw this bird only once, near a feeder in Victoriaville, Quebec.

Last updated on 2023-12-15. Written and regularly updated by Karl-Heinz Müller, Dipl. Natw. ETH, Biology. With 10 years of experience in wildlife photography, Karl-Heinz shares first-hand, on-site collected observations, photos and videos from his frequent visits to parks in the Montreal area.