Fox Sparrow

Fox Sparrow ~Photography by Caitlyn Sippel

One of the more colourful of its species, the Fox Sparrow in the east gets its name from its rusty colour, whereas they appear darker in the northwest. They are also backyard birds and will often be identified through their foraging behaviours as they hop along the leaf litter to upturn leaves to find insects or seeds. The Fox Sparrow is one of the larger and more robust of its species, with a wingspan of 27-29 cm and a length of 15-19 cm. They live up to 9 years and prefer to live a solitary life or in small flocks.

Voice:

Their call sounds like a sharp tshak or tshuk. When flying, the Fox Sparrow calls a high-pitched tzeep! and sings a complex and musical song with whistles and trills.

Watch this video to hear a Fox Sparrow's voice:

Nesting:

Their nest is made up of dense moss or grass to form a cup and is lined with fine materials, often in a shrub close to the ground. Fox sparrows lay 2 to 5 eggs in 1 brood from April to July.

Feeding:

They forage for fruit, seeds and insects.