Fox Sparrows are named for their rusty red plumage that resembles a fox’s fur. During the breeding season, you are most likely to spot them in brushy areas and coniferous forests at far northern latitudes. Come winter, you can find them in the southeastern and mid-Atlantic United States and on the Pacific coast.

Although their fox-red plumage is iconic, there are several different varieties of Fox Sparrows. The classic “red” variety is rust-colored on top with a white, red-streaked breast. Their heads are rust-colored and gray. They spend their winters in central and eastern North America. The “sooty” variety is a much darker brown on top, with a white, brown-streaked breast. Their heads are brown and gray. They winter in the Pacific Northwest. The “Slate-colored” Fox Sparrows of the Rocky Mountains are a sleek gray color on top and on their sides. They white, gray-streaked breasts. Their heads are a solid gray color. Lastly, the “thick-billed variety” has a noticeably thicker bill. They are gray on top, with a white, gray-streaked breast. Their wings are brown. During the winter, you can spot them in the Sierra Nevada mountains and the Cascades.

All varieties of Fox Sparrows are large, full-bodied birds. They all display the triangular color patterns on their sides and on their breasts.

Fox Sparrows are a regular fall migrant through the Creamer’s Field Migration Station. Many of the sparrows we observe in-hand during migration show large deposits of fat that they’ve put in to help fuel their journey. Over CFMS history, we have caught about 1,000 Fox Sparrows.