Watercolor portrait of Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca)

Fox Sparrow

Passerella iliaca
Long-distance migrant Tangles of willow, alder, salmonberry, a… Uncommon Primary Territorial Song

Learn to identify the Fox Sparrow by ear. Master the "rich whistled phrases" phrase and tell it apart from similar species.

“chip, CHEW-cheew-cheew, chir-chew-chew”

What the Fox Sparrow sounds like

The Fox Sparrow is the largest and most powerfully built of North America’s sparrows. Stocky and round-bodied, it comes in several regional color forms, but all show a rich, rusty wash that recalls the fur of a red fox. Fox Sparrows are consummate skulkers, kicking up leaf litter with two-footed hops while foraging on the ground and melting back into dense thickets when disturbed.

“rich whistled phrases”

How to tell it apart

Listen for:A rich, clear series of melodious whistles and trills, each phrase starting with a sharp note followed by descending or mixed notes. Often written as “chip, CHEW-cheew-cheew, chir-chew-chew”.
Don't confuse with:The Song Sparrow — song sparrow slimmer with longer tail

Where you'll hear it

Tangles of willow, alder, salmonberry, and other shrubs along streams, forest edges, and wet thickets in the breeding season; chaparral, hedgerows, and brush piles in winter.

Arrives on breeding grounds soon after snowmelt (Apr–May), rears one brood, then departs Aug–Sep. Peak migration across most of the U.S. in Mar–Apr and Oct. Winters Nov–Mar.

Similar species

Song Sparrow

Song Sparrow slimmer with longer tail

Hermit Thrush

Hermit Thrush larger with thinner bill

Brown Thrasher

Much larger with long decurved bill

Fox Sparrow song FAQ

What does a Fox Sparrow sound like?
A rich, clear series of melodious whistles and trills, each phrase starting with a sharp note followed by descending or mixed notes. Listen for the "rich whistled phrases" phrase.
How do I tell a Fox Sparrow from a Song Sparrow by sound?
Song Sparrow: Song Sparrow slimmer with longer tail; Breast streaks finer, not triangular blotches; Song more buzzy and less musical.
When is the best time to hear a Fox Sparrow?
Arrives on breeding grounds soon after snowmelt (Apr–May), rears one brood, then departs Aug–Sep. Peak migration across most of the U.S. in Mar–Apr and Oct. Winters Nov–Mar.