Above: A spring migrant Fox Sparrow at Pinawa; by Linda Huisman.
How do I recognize it?
The Fox Sparrow is a large, robustly proportioned sparrow. The Red variety, found in much of Canada including Manitoba, has extensive “foxy” coloration on its back and tail, grey head and neck, and white underparts copiously marked with dark red-brown spots and blotches. Male Fox Sparrows’ melodious songs enrich our parks and gardens in early spring; otherwise, the sexes are almost indistinguishable. They also often draw attention with their noisy foraging in leaf litter. They stand on leaves, kick them back, and seek whatever morsels lay beneath. The racket can make you think a much larger animal is rummaging in the undergrowth.
Above: A Fox Sparrow finds a bare patch of ground to forage on after a spring snowstorm at Pinawa; by Peter Taylor.
Does it migrate?
Fox Sparrows migrate through southern Manitoba from wintering areas in the southern U.S.A. to their nesting range in the northern third of our province and elsewhere across Canada. They are among the earliest spring migrant songbirds, typically pausing here in mid- to late April, and sometimes lingering well into May in the event of a stormy cold snap. Return migration takes place from late September through October, with occasional individuals lingering into the winter.
Above: Fox Sparrow pausing in the Sandilands area in April; by Garry Budyk.
Where does it live?
During migration, Fox Sparrows visit parks, gardens, riparian forest strips, and other wooded areas. They often join the spring clean-up crews of juncos and other small birds, picking up scattered seeds that are revealed near feeders as the snow melts. They tend to be less conspicuous during fall migration than in spring. They nest on or near the ground in dense, shrubby habitats.
Above: A Fox Sparrow picks over seed debris in April snowpack at Pinawa, while showing off its sturdy, leaf-kicking legs; by Nancy Bremner.
Where can I see it?
If you have a busy bird-feeder, chances are good that Fox Sparrows will visit you during migration. Otherwise, try wilder, shrubby spots in urban parks or cottage areas near lakes and rivers. Finding Fox Sparrows during the nesting season will require a lot more effort—the most accessible localities are probably Churchill, the Thompson – Gillam area, and a small, outlying southerly population near The Pas.
Above: A fall migrant Fox Sparrow in an October dusting of snow at Winnipeg; by Garry Budyk.
Conservation Status.
There are some indications of increasing numbers, based mainly on Breeding Bird Surveys and Christmas Bird Counts, but the quantity and quality of data are limited by difficult access to the remote areas where Fox Sparrows nest.
Above: An overwintering “Sooty” Fox Sparrow on Vancouver Island; by Peter Taylor.
Did you know?
Taxonomists recognize about 18 subspecies of Fox Sparrows, often classified in four groups known as Red, Sooty, Slate-colored, and Thick-billed. The Red Fox Sparrow breeds from Alaska across Canada to Newfoundland. The other three occupy distinct ranges in western North America; all are duller coloured than the Red. Further research is needed before a decision can be made on splitting these four distinctive forms into separate species. Unusually grey-looking Fox Sparrows are occasionally reported in Manitoba. The Slate-colored form, which breeds from the Rockies almost to the Pacific Ocean, would seem to be the most likely to turn up here.
Written by Peter Taylor