BIRD OF THE MONTH - Fox Sparrow

January 2026 - Fox Sparrow

Typically seen sending up a spray of leaf litter as they kick around in search of food, Fox Sparrows are dark, splotchy sparrows of dense thickets. Named for the rich red hues that many Fox Sparrows wear, this species is nevertheless one of our most variable birds, with four main groups that can range from foxy red to gray to dark brown.

Since they breed primarily in remote areas, many people see them in winter when the birds move into backyard thickets. They tend to feed on the ground close to dense vegetation. They enjoy small seeds and many kinds of berries. They may scratch for fallen seeds underneath bird feeders, particularly if they are close to cover.

Male Fox Sparrows sing a sequence of about a dozen rich, whistled notes lasting 2-3 seconds in all, usually from a concealed perch a few feet from the top of a spruce or fir tree. During summer they sing vigorously at any time from before dawn until long after dark, in fair weather or foul.

A short to long distance migrant and all populations migrate, but migration distances are very variable.