Fox Sparrow

A rich, clear series of melodious whistles and trills, each phrase starting with a sharp note followed by descending or mixed notes.

Long-distance migrant. Breeds across the boreal forest of Alaska and Canada and in montane brushlands of the West. Winters mainly in the Pacific states, the Southeast, and Mexico.

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.

Fox Sparrows are big, sturdy sparrows with several very different regional looks: rusty Red birds, charcoal-brown Sooty birds, gray-backed Slate-colored birds, and Thick-billed birds with massive bills. Their vigorous two-footed leaf-scratching is often the shared giveaway.