Editing Fox sparrow

{{Short description|Species of bird}}
{{speciesbox
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name=IUCN>{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International. |year=2016 |title=''Passerella iliaca'' |volume=2016 |page=e.T103779110A94696453 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T103779110A94696453.en |access-date=8 April 2021}}</ref>
| image = Passerella iliaca-001.jpg
| image_caption = [[Red fox sparrow]] (''P. i. iliaca''), [[Whitby, Ontario|Whitby]], [[Ontario]]
| genus = Passerella
| parent_authority = [[William Swainson|Swainson]], 1837
| species = iliaca
| authority = ([[Blasius Merrem|Merrem]], 1786)
| range_map = FoxSparrowMap.png
| range_map_caption = Breeding ranges of the four fox sparrow groups
}}

The '''fox sparrow''' (''Passerella iliaca'') is a large [[New World sparrow]]. It is the only member of the genus '''''Passerella''''', although some authors split the species into four (see below).

==Taxonomy==
[[File:FoxSparrow-Sooty-4DEC2017.jpg|alt=Sooty Fox Sparrow|left|thumb|268x268px|[[Sooty fox sparrow]], [[Sacramento, California]]]]
More specific information regarding plumage is available in the accounts for the various [[Taxon|taxa]].
*[[Red fox sparrow]], ''P. i. iliaca'' <small>(Merrem, 1786)</small> – this taxon breeds in the taiga of Canada and Alaska and winters in central and eastern North America. This is the brightest colored group.
*[[Sooty fox sparrow]], ''P. i. unalaschcensis'' <small>(Gmelin, JF, 1789)</small> – this taxon breeds along the Pacific coast of North America from the Aleutian Islands south to northwestern Washington, and winters from southeastern Alaska south to northern Baja California. It is browner and darker than the red fox sparrow.
*[[Slate-colored fox sparrow]], ''P. i. schistacea'' <small>Baird, SF, 1858</small> – this taxon breeds in interior western North America and winters to the south and west. It has a gray head and mantle, brown wings, brown breast streaks, and a russet tail.
*[[Thick-billed fox sparrow]], ''P. i. megarhyncha'' <small>Baird, SF, 1858</small> – this taxon is mostly restricted to California and Oregon. This group is similar in coloration to the slate-colored fox sparrow, but features a particularly thick bill, as its name suggests.

==Description==
{{Listen
|filename=Passerella iliaca iliaca - Fox Sparrow - XC62943.ogg
|title=''Passerella iliaca'' call
|description=Call
|format=[[Ogg]]}}

Adults are among the largest sparrows, heavily spotted and streaked underneath. All feature a messy central breast spot though it is less noticeable on the [[Thick-billed fox sparrow|thick billed]] and [[Slate-colored fox sparrow|slate-colored]] varieties. Plumage varies markedly from one group to another.

'''Measurements'''<ref>{{Cite web|title=Fox Sparrow Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology|url=https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Fox_Sparrow/id|access-date=2020-09-29|website=www.allaboutbirds.org|language=en}}</ref>''':'''

* '''Length''': 5.9–7.5 in (15–19&nbsp;cm)
* '''Weight''': 0.9–1.6 oz (26–44 g)
* '''Wingspan''': 10.5–11.4 in (26.7–29&nbsp;cm)

==Behavior==
Fox sparrows are a generally common bird within their range. They forage by scratching the ground which makes them vulnerable to cats and other predators. Most populations of Fox sparrows [[bird migration|migrate]] north for breeding, however some stable populations exist along the west coast of North America.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Swarth |first1=H. W. |title=Revision of the avian genus Passerella with specia reference to the distribution and migration of the races in California |journal=University of California Publications in Zoology |date=1920 |volume=21 |pages=75–224}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bell |first1=C. P. |title=Leap-frog migration in the Fox Sparrow: minimizing the cost of spring migration |journal=Condor |date=1997 |volume=99 |issue=2 |pages=470–477|doi=10.2307/1369953 |jstor=1369953 }}</ref>

===Diet===
They mainly eat seeds and insects, as well as some berries. Coastal fox sparrows may also eat crustaceans.

===Reproduction===
Fox sparrows nest in wooded areas across northern [[Canada]] and western [[North America]] from [[Alaska]] to [[California]]. They nest either in a sheltered location on the ground or low in trees or shrubs. A nest typically contains two to five pale green to greenish white eggs speckled with reddish brown.<ref name=TBH />

==Systematics==
<!-- [[File:FoxSparrow23.jpg|thumb|left]] [can this bird be identified to population?] -->
The review by Zink & Weckstein (2003),<ref name="Zink Weckstein 2003" /> which added [[mtDNA]] [[cytochrome b|cytochrome ''b'']], [[NADH dehydrogenase]] [[Protein subunit|subunit]] 2 and 3, and [[D-loop]] [[DNA sequence|sequence]], confirmed the four "subspecies groups"<ref>Not defined by the [[International Code of Zoological Nomenclature|ICZN]]</ref> of the fox sparrow that were outlined by the initial limited mtDNA [[haplotype]] comparison (Zink 1994).<ref name="Zink 1994" /> These should probably be recognized as separate species, but this was deferred for further analysis of hybridization. Particularly the contact zones between the slate-colored and thick-billed fox sparrows which are only weakly distinct [[Morphology (biology)|morphologically]] were of interest; the other groups were found to be distinct far earlier.<ref name="Swarth 1920" /> A further study of the nuclear genome, using microsatellites, showed similar separation between the four groups.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Zink|year=2008|title=Microsatellite and mitochondrial dna differentiation in the fox sparrow|journal=The Condor|volume=110|issue=3|pages=482–492|doi=10.1525/cond.2008.8496|s2cid=86360069 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

The combined molecular data is unable to resolve the interrelationship of the subspecies groups and of the subspecies in these, but aids in confirming the distinctness of the thick-billed group.<ref name="Zink Weckstein 2003" /> [[Biogeography]] indicates that the coastal populations were probably isolated during an epoch of [[glaciation]] of the [[Rocky Mountains]] range, but this is also not very helpful in resolving the remaining problems of within-group diversity, and inter-group relationships.

Major taxonomic authorities currently differ in their treatment of the fox sparrow complex. The IOC World Bird List/''[[Birds of the World: Recommended English Names]]'' and the ''[[HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World]]'' treat each of the four subspecies groups as a separate species, while [[eBird]]/''[[The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World]]'' and ''The [[Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World]]'' currently treat the complex as a single species.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/species.jsp?avibaseid=3A7B1F59DE8F597D|title=Passerella [iliaca, unalaschensis, schistacea or megarhyncha]|last=Lepage|first=Denis|website=Avibase - the world bird database|access-date=2017-06-04}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name=TBH>{{cite book | last1 = Ehrlich | first1 = Paul R. | last2 = Dobkin | first2 = David S. | last3 = Wheye | first3 = Darryl | title = The Birder's Handbook: A Field Guide to the Natural History of North American Birds. | publisher = Simon and Schuster, Fireside | year = 1988 | location = New York | page = [https://archive.org/details/birdershandbookf00ehrl_0/page/596 596] | isbn = 0-671-65989-8 | url = https://archive.org/details/birdershandbookf00ehrl_0 | url-access = registration }}</ref>

<ref name="Swarth 1920">{{Cite journal | last1 = Swarth | first1 = H. W. |year=1920 |title=Revision of the avian genus ''Passerella'' with special reference to the distribution and migration of the races in California |journal=University of California Publications in Zoology |volume=21 |pages=75–224 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/93394}}</ref>

<ref name="Zink 1994">{{Cite journal |doi = 10.2307/2410006 |pmid=28567786 |last=Zink |first=Robert M. |year=1994 |title=The Geography of Mitochondrial DNA Variation, Population Structure, hybridization, and Species Limits in the Fox Sparrow (''Passerella iliaca'') |journal=Evolution |volume=48 |issue=1 |pages=96–111|jstor=2410006 }}</ref>

<ref name="Zink Weckstein 2003">{{Cite journal |doi = 10.1642/0004-8038(2003)120[0522:REHOTF]2.0.CO;2 |last1=Zink |first1=Robert M. |last2=Weckstein |first2=Jason D. |year=2003 |title=Recent evolutionary history of the Fox Sparrows (Genus: ''Passerella'') |journal=Auk |volume=48 |issue=120(2) |pages=522–527|s2cid=85871498 }}</ref>

}}
* {{cite report |editor1-last=Gill |editor1-first=Frank |editor2-last=Donsker |editor2-first=David |year=2014 |title=IOC World Bird List (v 4.4): Bananaquit, buntings, sparrows & bush tanagers |url = http://www.worldbirdnames.org/bow/buntings/ |doi=10.14344/IOC.ML.4.4 | publisher = [[International Ornithologists’ Union]] | access-date = 16 December 2014|doi-access=free }}
* {{cite book | last1 = Beadle | first1 = D. | last2 = Rising |first2= J. D. | title = Sparrows of the United States and Canada | publisher = Academic Press | year = 2002| location = San Diego | isbn = 0-691-11747-0 }}
* {{cite book | last1 = Sibley | first1 = David Allen | author-link = David Allen Sibley | title = The Sibley Guide to Birds | publisher = Alfred A. Knopf | year = 2000 | location = New York | isbn = 0-679-45122-6 | url = https://archive.org/details/sibleyguidetobir00sibl_0 }}
* {{cite journal | last1 = Zink | first1 = Robert M. | last2 = Kessen |first2= A. E. | title = Species Limits in the Fox Sparrow | journal = Birding | year = 1999 | volume = 31 | pages=508–517 }}

==Further reading==

===Book===
<div style="font-size:87%;">
* Weckstein, J. D., D. E. Kroodsma, and R. C. Faucett. (2002). ''Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca). The Birds of North America Online'' (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology; Retrieved from The Birds of North American Online database
</div>

===Theses===
<div style="font-size:87%;">
* Blacquiere JR. M.Sc. (1980). ''Some aspects of the breeding biology and vocalizations of the fox sparrow, Passerella iliaca, Merrem, in Newfoundland''. Memorial University of Newfoundland (Canada), Canada.
* Kessen AE. Ph.D. (2004). ''Population structure in the fox sparrow: An investigation using microsatellites''. University of Minnesota, United States—Minnesota.
* Martin DJ. Ph.D. (1976). ''STRUCTURE OF SONGS AND ORGANIZATION OF SINGING IN FOX SPARROWS BREEDING IN NORTHERN UTAH AND SOUTHERN IDAHO''. Utah State University, United States—Utah.
* Zink RM. Ph.D. (1983). ''PATTERNS AND EVOLUTIONARY SIGNIFICANCE OF GEOGRAPHIC VARIATION IN THE SCHISTACEA GROUP OF THE FOX SPARROW (PASSERELLA ILIACA) (OREGON, NEVADA, CALIFORNIA)''. University of California, Berkeley, United States—California.
</div>

===Articles===
<div style="font-size:87%;">
* {{cite journal | last1 = Anon | year = 1968 | title = Fox Sparrow Very Rare Summer Resident 10-11-65 Swamp Sparrow Rare Winter Visitor 9-11-67 10-29-67 Lykins Gulch Colorado USA | journal = Colorado Field Ornithologist | volume = 4 | pages = 13–14 }}
* {{cite journal | last1 = Banks | first1 = RC | year = 1970 | title = The Fox Sparrow on the West Slope of the Oregon Cascades | journal = Condor | volume = 72 | issue = 3| pages = 369–370 | doi=10.2307/1366023| jstor = 1366023 }}
* {{cite journal | last1 = Bell | first1 = CP | year = 1997 | title = Leap-frog migration in the fox sparrow:: Minimizing the cost of spring migration | journal = Condor | volume = 99 | issue = 2| pages = 470–477 | doi=10.2307/1369953| jstor = 1369953 | doi-access = free }}
* Blankson ENT & McKernan RL. (1995). ''Evolutionary and ecological considerations of seven subspecies of the fox sparrow (Passerella iliaca) wintering in California''. Strauss, M. vol '''S''', p. Unity in Diversity.
* {{cite journal | last1 = Burns | first1 = KJ | s2cid = 53062826 | year = 1993 | title = Geographic variation in ontogeny of the fox sparrow | journal = Condor | volume = 95 | issue = 3| pages = 652–661 | doi=10.2307/1369608| jstor = 1369608 }}
* {{cite journal | last1 = Burns | first1 = KJ | last2 = Hackett | first2 = SJ | s2cid = 53055485 | year = 1993 | title = Nest and nest-site characteristics of a western population of fox sparrow (Passerella iliaca) | journal = Southwestern Naturalist | volume = 38 | issue = 3| pages = 277–279 | doi=10.2307/3671433| jstor = 3671433 | bibcode = 1993SWNat..38..277B }}
* {{cite journal | last1 = Burns | first1 = KJ | last2 = Zink | first2 = RM | year = 1990 | title = Temporal and Geographic Homogeneity of Gene Frequencies in the Fox Sparrow Passerella-Iliaca | journal = Auk | volume = 107 | issue = 2| pages = 421–425 | doi=10.2307/4087632| jstor = 4087632 | doi-access = free }}
* {{cite journal | last1 = Christie | first1 = DS | year = 1968 | title = Summer Occurrence of the Fox Sparrow in New-Brunswick Canada Passerella-Iliaca | journal = Canadian Field-Naturalist | volume = 82 | issue = 1 | doi = 10.5962/p.342843 | doi-access = free }}
* {{cite journal | last1 = Hubert | first1 = P | last2 = Smith | first2 = A | year = 1974 | title = Possible Fox Sparrow Nesting in Minnesota | journal = Loon | volume = 46 | issue = 1 }}
* {{cite journal | last1 = Jewer | first1 = OD | last2 = Threlfall | first2 = W | year = 1978 | title = Parasites of the Fox Sparrow Passerella-Iliaca and Northern Waterthrush Seiurus-Noveboracensis in Newfoundland Canada | journal = Proceedings of the Helminthological Society of Washington | volume = 45 | issue = 2| pages = 270–272 }}
* {{cite journal | last1 = Johnson | first1 = JW | last2 = Johnson | first2 = L | year = 1972 | title = Fox Sparrow Observations in the Huron Area | journal = South Dakota Bird Notes | volume = 24 | page = 4 }}
* {{cite journal | last1 = Martin | first1 = DJ | year = 1977 | title = Songs of the Fox Sparrow Part 1 Structure of Song and Its Comparison with Song in Other Emberizidae | journal = Condor | volume = 79 | issue = 2| pages = 209–221 | doi=10.2307/1367164| jstor = 1367164 }}
* {{cite journal | last1 = Martin | first1 = DJ | year = 1979 | title = Songs of the Fox Sparrow Passerella-Iliaca 2. Intra Population and Inter Population Variation | journal = Condor | volume = 81 | issue = 2| pages = 173–184 | doi=10.2307/1367286| jstor = 1367286 | doi-access = free }}
* {{cite journal | last1 = Martin | first1 = DJ | year = 1980 | title = Response by Male Fox Sparrows Passerella-Iliaca to Broadcast of Particular Con Specific Songs | journal = Wilson Bulletin | volume = 92 | issue = 1| pages = 21–32 }}
* {{cite journal | last1 = Martin | first1 = DJ | year = 1990 | title = Songs of the Fox Sparrow 3. Ordering of song | journal = Wilson Bulletin | volume = 102 | issue = 4| pages = 655–671 }}
* {{cite journal | last1 = Martin | first1 = DJ | last2 = Naugler | first2 = CT | last3 = Smith | first3 = PC | year = 1993 | title = Song similarity in populations of fox sparrows: A rejection of Naugler's and Smith's conclusions—Comment/reply | journal = The Condor | volume = 95 | issue = 4| page = 1057 | doi=10.2307/1369448| jstor = 1369448 }}
* {{cite journal | last1 = Naugler | first1 = CT | last2 = Smith | first2 = PC | year = 1991 | title = Song Similarity in an Isolated Population of Fox Sparrows Passerella-Iliaca | journal = Condor | volume = 93 | issue = 4| pages = 1001–1003 | doi=10.2307/3247734| jstor = 3247734 }}
* {{cite journal | last1 = Peyton | first1 = LJ | year = 1971 | title = Geographical Variation of Fox Sparrow Songs in Alaska | journal = Proceedings of the Alaska Science Conference | volume = 22 | issue = 39 }}
* {{cite journal | last1 = Robert | first1 = MZ | last2 = Jason | first2 = DW | year = 2003 | title = Recent evolutionary history of the Fox Sparrows (Genus: Passerella) | journal = The Auk | volume = 120 | issue = 2| page = 522 | doi = 10.1642/0004-8038(2003)120[0522:REHOTF]2.0.CO;2 | s2cid = 85871498 }}
* {{cite journal | last1 = Ryan | first1 = AG | year = 1974 | title = An Incubation Period and a Nestling Period for the Fox Sparrow | journal = Canadian Field-Naturalist | volume = 88 | issue = 2| pages = 230–231 | doi = 10.5962/p.344381 | doi-access = free }}
* {{cite journal | last1 = Schmid | first1 = U | year = 1979 | title = 2 Rare Guest Birds on North Sea Island of Scharhoern West Germany Fox Sparrow Passerella-Iliaca and Scarlet Grosbeak Carpodacus-Erythrinus | journal = Vogelkundliche Berichte aus Niedersachsen | volume = 11 | issue = 2| pages = 45–46 }}
* {{cite journal | last1 = Threlfall | first1 = W | last2 = Blacquiere | first2 = JR | year = 1982 | title = Breeding Biology of the Fox Sparrow Passerella-Iliaca in Newfoundland Canada | journal = Journal of Field Ornithology | volume = 53 | issue = 3| pages = 235–239 }}
* {{cite journal | last1 = Webster | first1 = JD | year = 1975 | title = The Fox Sparrow in Southwestern Yukon and Adjacent Areas | journal = Condor | volume = 77 | issue = 2| pages = 215–216 | doi=10.2307/1365798| jstor = 1365798 }}
* {{cite journal | last1 = Webster | first1 = JD | year = 1983 | title = Passerella-Iliaca-Chilcatensis New-Subspecies a Fox Sparrow from Alaska USA | journal = Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington | volume = 96 | issue = 4| pages = 664–668 }}
* {{cite journal | last1 = Zink | first1 = RM | year = 1983 | title = Evolutionary and Systematic Significance of Temporal Variation in the Fox Sparrow Passerella-Iliaca | journal = Systematic Zoology | volume = 32 | issue = 3| pages = 223–238 | doi=10.2307/2413443| jstor = 2413443 }}
* {{cite journal | last1 = Zink | first1 = RM | year = 2008 | title = Microsatellite and Mitochondrial DNA Differentiation in the Fox Sparrow | journal = The Condor | volume = 110 | issue = 3| pages = 482–492 | doi=10.1525/cond.2008.8496| s2cid = 86360069 | doi-access = free }}
</div>

==External links==
{{Commons category|Passerella iliaca}}
{{Wikispecies|Passerella iliaca}}
* [http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i5850id.html Fox sparrow - ''Passerella iliaca''] - USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter
* [http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Fox_Sparrow.html Fox sparrow species account] - Cornell Lab of Ornithology
* {{InternetBirdCollection|red-fox-sparrow-passerella-iliaca|Red fox sparrow}}
* {{VIREO|fox+sparrow|Fox sparrow}}

{{Passeroidea|E.|state=collapsed}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q422873}}

[[Category:Passerella|fox sparrow]]
[[Category:American sparrows|fox sparrow]]
[[Category:Native birds of Alaska]]
[[Category:Birds of Canada]]
[[Category:Native birds of the Northwestern United States]]
[[Category:Native birds of the Western United States]]
[[Category:Birds described in 1786|fox sparrow]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Blasius Merrem|fox sparrow]]